SAICT can do job sans invasion of privacy
MEMBERS of the Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation (SAICT) have the authority to enforce the EDSA busway rule but were told not to literally resort to ‘invasion of privacy’ by taking pictures and videos of drivers and vehicles they have been accosting and posting them online.
The matter lately has been a concern of motorists including law enforcers themselves who, after being flagged down by SAICT personnel for passing through the exclusive EDSA bus lane, have found themselves being mocked or ridiculed after their photos or videos were shared on social media and became viral.
One of the key legal provisions regulating video recording in the country was stipulated in Republic Act 9995 or the Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act which addresses situations where individuals record others without their consent in situations where privacy is expected, even in public places.
RA 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 on the other hand makes it clear that ‘posting or sharing photos or videos taken without consent, especially if intended to harm or embarrass the individual, may constitute cyber libel or identity theft.’
SAICT personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard and the Metro Manila Development Authority are known to have taken videos of busway violators that went viral after being uploaded to social media or furnished to the media.
On Wednesday, Philippine National Police Public Information Office chief, Colonel Randulf T. Tuaño said that the two vehicles flagged down by SAICTF personnel on Tuesday were carrying senior PP officers who were on their way to Camp Crame to attend a meeting regarding a sensitive operation mentioned by Local Government Secretary Juanito Victor ‘Jonvic’ C. Remulla.
Col. Tuaño defended his superiors from accusations that they were violating the law.
“Base sa guidelines ng Department of Transportation, hindi po feeling entitled yung mga officials na yun. By nature of our job, 24-oras tayong nagtatrabaho as mentioned by PNP chief, General Rommel Marbil. Mabuti pang matikitan basta makarating on time,” he said.
Col. Tuaño said the latest incident has prompted the PNP leadership to seek a dialog with new DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon to express their feelings.
“Pag emergency po kasi walang time to really coordinate. Ang importante eh mag-usap ang PNP, MMDA and DOTr kung sino talaga dapat ma-exempt sa bus lane dahil 24-hours ang trabaho namin,” he said.
The PNP-PIO head also said that the general sentiment of the force is that if officers and their drivers have really violated Republic Act 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code of the Philippines, they should issue traffic citation tickets.
“Kung may violation ng RA 4136, hindi naman kailangang i-publish. Moving violation lang, issue tickets lang at hindi dapat ipangalandakan sa buong mundo ang plaka ng sasakyan, hindi kailangang ipalabas sa TV,” he said.
Some PNP officials have resented the fact that SAICT videos have found themselves on TV and social media and caused embarrassment to some officers who were forced to use the bus lane because they were responding to emergencies or going to very urgent meetings.
“Hindi naming sinasabi na hindi maganda na ginagawa ng SAICT ang trabaho nila. Walang plano ang PNP to file charges pero yun ang hihilingin ng PNP sa SAICTF kung mag-uusap-usap kami,” Col. Tuaño said.
The latest incident involved two vehicles carrying senior PNP officials and being escorted by motorcycle riders from the PNP Highway Patrol Group. The convoy was stopped along the Ortigas Station 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
