ILOILO CITY — The Police Regional Office 6 (Western Visayas) is waiting for the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) in line with the new law, granting subpoena power to the Philippine National Police (PNP).
PRO-6 spokesperson Police Superintendent Gilbert Gorero on Tuesday welcomed the new development for the PNP, saying it will be a “great help” to expedite and improve their capacity to resolve cases.
The IRR would assure that the subpoena power given to them would not be abused because they would know who would be designated or authorized to issue the subpoena, he said.
President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed Republic Act 10973, which amends Republic Act 6975 or the Local Government Code last March 1.
The law authorizes the PNP chief, the director and deputy director for administration of the PNP and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to administer oath, issue subpoena and subpoena duces tecum (documents) in relation to its investigation.
Gorero said that prior to the newly-signed law, only the court, fiscal and the village chiefs are authorized to summon anybody while the policemen have no authority to subpoena or summon any individual even if they are person of interest.
“That is why after the case was filed, there is no continuity because with the absence of our authority, we cannot force anybody. That is violation of constitutional rights,” he said.
Gorero said that the new law is really “very beneficial” because they were given the authority to “compel everybody to attend or appear before the investigation”.
Under the newly-signed law, the subpoena to be issued directly to the person whose attendance is required should “state the nature and purpose of the investigation”.
Meanwhile, the subpoena duces tecum shall contain “reasonable description” of books, documents or things being summoned for investigation. (Cindy Ferrer/PNA)
