Rody gives subpoena powers to PNP chief, CIDG exec

President Duterte has signed a law authorizing the Philippine National Police (PNP) chief to subpoena witnesses, compelling them to testify and produce documents.

The authority is contained in Republic Act 10973, which amended RA 6975, otherwise known as the Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990.

Duterte signed the new law on March 1. House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas sent a copy to journalists yesterday.

Under the new law, the PNP chief and the deputy director for administration of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) “shall have the power to administer oath, and issue subpoena (testimony) and subpoena duces tecum (documents) in relation to its investigation.” Such authority cannot be delegated. The law requires that the subpoena “shall state the purpose and nature of

the investigation” and “shall be directed to the person whose attendance is required.”

On the other hand, the subpoena duces tecum, aside from the purpose and nature of the inquiry and the name of the addressee, “shall also contain a reasonable description of the books, documents or things demanded which must be relevant to the investigation.”

“Failure to comply with the subpoena and subpoena duces tecum shall authorize the filing of a case for indirect contempt under the Rules of Court with the regional trial court,” the law provides.

The law will take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two newspapers of national circulation.

Fariñas said the President has also signed seven laws of local application.

Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop, a former police officer who once headed the CIDG, said the grant of subpoena power to the PNP chief and the deputy CIDG director for administration would strengthen the police organization’s “investigatory and prosecutory functions.”

He said the old Philippine Constabulary Criminal Investigation Service had the same authority, but RA 6975 removed it.

PNP spokesman Chief Supt. John Bulalacao declined to comment on the law. “Let me have the time to read the details,” he said.