-
The Bureau of Customs has directed personnel to comply with the mandatory use of body-worn cameras in the exercise of customs police authority and other operations
-
The directive is in line with BOC’s continuing efforts to modernize and strengthen its enforcement and border security capabilities while further enhancing trade facilitation and improving the collection of lawful revenues
-
The mandatory use of body-worn cameras is pursuant to Customs Memorandum Order No. 33-2021, which provides rules on the use of body-worn cameras as standard equipment when exercising customs police authority and other customs operations
-
Failure to comply with OCOM No. 80-2026 “shall constitute sufficient ground for the imposition of administrative disciplinary action, without prejudice to the filing of appropriate charges
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has directed personnel to strictly comply with the mandatory use of body-worn cameras in the exercise of customs police authority and other operations.
The directive is in line with BOC’s continuing efforts to modernize and strengthen its enforcement and border security capabilities while further enhancing trade facilitation and improving the collection of lawful revenues, according to Office of the Commissioner (OCOM) No. 80-2026 dated June 19 and signed by Customs commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno.
The mandatory use of body-worn cameras is pursuant to Customs Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 33-2021, which provides rules on the use of body-worn cameras as standard equipment when exercising customs police authority and other customs operations.
Under the CMO, the use of body-worn camera and the eventual recording of events should be mandatory in customs operations such as:
- approved controlled delivery operations
- boarding formalities
- conduct of auction sales
- destruction or condemnation of goods, including the transport thereof to the designated facility
- Electronic Tracking of Containerized Cargo (E-TRACC) System-related operations, particularly the conduct of investigation upon report of violation of E-TRACC rules and regulations;
- fuel marking operations
- guarding duty at customs import exit gates for containers/cargoes, if applicable
- hot pursuit
- inspection of consignees’ offices
- non-intrusive examination of goods
- physical examination of goods within and/or outside of customs zone
- search of persons arriving from foreign countries
- service of Letter of Authority
- search of vehicles, other carriers, persons, and animals
- search on vessels or aircrafts and persons or goods conveyed therein
Only in certain circumstances, such as when employees are on break and conduct of tactical planning, among others, are cameras or devices may be turned off.
The CMO also notes the data privacy rights of an individual under Republic Act No. 10173 or the Data Privacy Act of 2012 must be respected, provided the exercise of such rights does not fall under the exceptions provided by the law.
Failure to comply with OCOM No. 80-2026 “shall constitute sufficient ground for the imposition of administrative disciplinary action, without prejudice to the filing of appropriate charges under existing laws, rules, and regulations.”
BOC last year also reminded its officials of the mandatory use of body-worn cameras during condemnation activities, including the transport of goods involved.
BOC in 2021 acquired 200 body-worn cameras for distribution to collection districts nationwide as part of efforts to modernize and enhance enforcement capabilities.
