Senate passes Ejercito bill requiring body cameras for law enforcement
March 16, 2026
The Senate passed on third and final reading a bill requiring law enforcement officers to wear body-worn cameras during official operations.
Deputy Majority Leader Senator JV Ejercito said Senate Bill No. 1908 or the Law Enforcement Body-worn Camera Act seeks to strengthen transparency and accountability in law enforcement while protecting both civilians and personnel in uniform.
“Sa paggamit ng body-worn cameras, maaalis ang pagdududa laban sa ating kapulisan kasabay ang pangangalaga sa karapatang pantao ng ating mga mamamayan,” he said.
Ejercito, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, said body-worn cameras would serve as ‘impartial witnesses’ in documenting police operations.
Under the measure, the use of body-worn cameras will be mandatory during operations of the Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
The bill sets minimum technical standards for the devices to ensure the reliability of recordings, including at least 1080p Full HD resolution, built-in audio recording, date and time stamping, and GPS capability.
Penalties will be imposed for violations, including failure to activate the cameras during operations, unauthorized access to recordings, negligent disclosure, tampering, destruction, or other improper use of footage.
Ejercito said the measure would help strengthen public trust in law enforcement institutions while protecting officers who properly perform their duties.
