IBP chief: Taking photos, videos of criminal acts right of public

Taking photos and videos of criminal acts being committed in public does not come with legal repercussions, Integrated Bar of the Philippines president Domingo Cayosa said Tuesday.

"A crime is a public offense against the country and the whole republic so kung gawin mo 'yan at i-video ka, wala kang privacy. Lahat ng mamamayan, mayroon silang karapatan na i-video 'yung mga hindi tamang nangyayari sa publiko... Walang iligal doon," Cayosa said in an interview on GMA News' Balitanghali.

"Di pwedeng i-cite dito 'yung right to privacy ng isang tao," he added.

On Sunday, a fatal shooting committed by a cop against his unarmed neighbors in Tarlac was caught on video and stirred public outrage. The suspect, later on, surrendered to the police.

Cayosa acknowledged that the Philippine National Police's discouragement on documenting crime incidents was premised on ensuring the safety of the witnesses.

Nonetheless, he said authorities can only remind the public for their safety but not prevent them from taking photos and videos of criminal acts.

"It is perfectly within their right. Lookout na nila kung mayroong repercussion sa kanila but actually it is their duty na i-video 'yan at ibigay sa mga awtoridad para maparusahan at mahuli ang gumagawa ng krimen," Cayosa said.

The witnesses taking the photos and videos, on the other hand, were reminded not to hamper the operation of authorities exercising their mandate in responding to the situations.

"Let them do their work professionally, in accordance with their rules of engagement at huwag naman i-hinder ang kanilang paggawa ng trabaho," he said.

Philippine National Police chief Police General Debold Sinas on Monday discouraged witnesses to take photos and videos during crime incidents, saying this may put their lives at risk.

Akbayan Chair Emeritus Etta Rosales, however, saw this advice as a "veiled threat to silence all witnesses to police atrocities."—AOL, GMA News