In his first visit to Camp Francisco Camacho this year, Talino at Galing ng Pinoy (TGP) Partylist Rep. Jose “Bong” Teves Jr. had reason to crow about two bills he and other House members authored largely for the benefit of law enforcement, public safety and order.
Before key officers and personnel of the Catanduanes Police Provincial Office headed by Col. Rayan Ador, the congressman assured that House Bill No. 6509, which would provide free legal assistance for military and uniformed personnel, would become law before the 19th Congress adjourns.
Now pending before the Senate where a counterpart bill has also been filed, the measure is backed by Rep. Ferdinand Alexander Marcos, the presidential son, as well as House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and a host of other solons. Expectedly, it was passed on Dec. 12, 2022 with 248 voting yes and only three no votes.
Under the proposed bill, any officer or uniformed personnel of the AFP, BFP, BJMP, PCG, or PNP facing any criminal, civil or administrative charge or case involving service-related incidents before a prosecutor’s office, court, administrative body, or any competent body or tribunal, shall be entitled to free legal assistance.
Such officers or uniformed personnel who have been granted free legal assistance shall continue to enjoy such legal assistance even after their retirement from service.
On the other hand, retired officers or uniformed personnel shall also be given free legal assistance for similar cases or charges for service-related incidents committed while still in active duty.
The government lawyer so designated to provide legal assistance shall be entitled to payment of actual travel and other expenses, including Special Counsel Allowance, subject to existing laws, rules, and regulations.
The measure also allows the provision, in the interest of justice, with private counsel at the expense of the government when necessary as determined by the respective service chiefs.
On the other hand, HB 7709 which seeks to establish a forensic DNA database in the Philippines, was filed by Cong. Teves on March 24, 2023 and is still pending before the Committee on Public Safety and Order.
The establishment and maintenance of a comprehensive National DNA Database, the partylist solon stressed, is necessary to perform comparative searches for the following purposes: to serve as a tool for crime prevention and crime solution; to identify a person who might have been involved in the commission of an offense; to prove the innocence or guilty of a person allegedly involved in the commission of an offense; to exonerate a person wrongly convicted of an offense; or to assist in the identification of missing persons or unidentified human remains especially during mass casualty disasters.
Under the proposed law, only a certified PNP DNA Collector shall collect a biological sample from any person who is arrested, formally charged or convicted of a crime for any offense, and anyone legally detained under law.
It also covers crime suspects required by a court to a DNA sample, persons of interest who may need to do so for their elimination as suspects, as well as active members of law enforcement agencies or the AFP, as well as anyone who voluntary provides a sample for the database.
Likewise, it will encourage employees of both government and private institutions and private citizens to submit DNA samples.
Surely, the enactment of Teves’ measure would help enhance the investigation of crimes, prevent future crimes by identifying repeat offenders, and give justice to victims and their families as DNA evidence can help solve cold cases.
While HB6509 may attract criticism for covering only law enforcers and not other public servants, the need for national DNA database is essential in maintaining public safety.