Bill to give CIDG power to issue subpoenas

A BILL that authorizes the Philippine National Police- Criminal Investigation Group (PNP-CIDG) to issue subpoenas has been approved in the House of Representatives on second reading.

Surigao del Norte Rep. Francisco Jose Matugas 2nd, author of House Bill (HB) 4863 said that CIDG’s gathering of documents - ing investigations.

Under HB 4863, the PNP-CIDG director and deputy directors may issue a subpoena compelling a person to appear in court and bring the case under litigation.

Matugas said that since the Ombudsman, Department of Justice, the National Bureau of Investigation, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), National Police Commission (Napolcom), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Cybercrime Operation Center of the Cybercrime Investigation Coordination Center all have the authority to issue a subpoena, the CIDG must also be authorized to issue the same.

“It is surprising that the PNP enforcement agency, does not - gation,” Matugas said.

He added that the data gathering, the organization and the keeps the investigation going, - the CIDG to do its job.

Matugas added that the CIDG’s purpose is to obtain information - islative or judicial in nature may be taken and require the attendance are purely investigatory in nature.

Antipolo City Rep. Romeo Acop, chairman of the House committee on the authority to issue a subpoena, the - ness in carrying out its mandated duties is severely hampered.

HB 4863 also gives the PNP cases involving violations of the Revised Penal Code and operate against organized crime groups, unless the President assigns the case exclusively to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).