JV Ejercito sponsors bill mandating police body cams
February 25, 2026
In a move to boost public trust in law enforcement, Senator JV Ejercito on Tuesday sponsored a bill that will require police officers to wear body cameras during operations, aiming to protect citizens, document police actions, and prevent abuse and false accusations.
Acting as chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, Ejercito sponsored the ‘Law Enforcement Body-Worn Camera Act’ that will mandate law enforcement officers to wear and activate body-worn cameras during legitimate operations.
These include the service of warrants of arrest, hot pursuit operations, anti-illegal drug operations, anti-cybercrime and anti-human trafficking operations, enforcement of visitorial powers, and checkpoint operations.
“In recent years, even legitimate police operations have been clouded by controversy due to the lack of clear, objective documentation. Body-worn cameras protect the public, and they also protect our law enforcers who do their jobs properly,” Ejercito said.
Under the measure, documentation of police operations becomes mandatory for the Philippine National Police (PNP), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
The bill sets minimum technical standards for body-worn cameras to ensure the reliability of recordings, including at least 1080p Full HD resolution, built-in audio, date and time stamping, and GPS capability, among others.
“Sa tulong po ng mga specification na ito, nilalayon po nating masisiguro na ang anumang footage na makukuha ay malinaw, kapani-paniwala, at maaaring magsilbing matibay na ebidensya kung kinakailangan,” said Ejercito.
The bill also seeks to balance transparency with privacy. It allows the use of redaction technology to protect the identities of victims, confidential sources, and other sensitive information, consistent with the Data Privacy Act.
Penalties will be imposed for violations, including failure to activate body-worn cameras, unauthorized access to recordings, negligent disclosure, tampering, destruction, or other improper use of footage.
Ejercito stressed that the proposed law is not meant to cast doubt on law enforcers but to strengthen their credibility and professionalism.
“Transparency protects the Filipino public, documentation protects our officers, and accountability strengthens our institutions… By striving to modernize and professionalize our law enforcement agencies’ operations, we are reinforcing public trust in our institutions and the rule of law,” he said.
