CONTRARY to his previous statements, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte on Sunday withdrew his support of an ordinance requiring business owners to set up closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in their establishments, citing the move is a violation to right to privacy.
Duterte said the existing CCTV ordinance is only applicable to establishments that "transact business with the public."
"As a lawyer, I would say that it will not pass the test of privacy," he said in his program Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa Sunday morning.
"Dili ka kapugos sa mga opisina nga miski ilang capital (is more than P3,000,000, but) they do not transact business with the public, imong pugson butangan ug CCTV, ma violate ang (Constitutional provision on the) right to privacy (You cannot force an establishment to put up CCTV cameras because it is a violation of the right to privacy based on the Philippine Constitution)," he said.
Duterte cited the killing of businessman Richard King inside the Vital C building during a gathering of health supplement distributors in Barrio Obrero. The establishment has no CCTV camera.
"Dili man to tindahan (Vital C). It is a venue for people na gina-train nila to sell the product (It is not a transacting office. It is a venue for trainings of their distributors)," he said.
He said setting up CCTV cameras must be voluntary for businesses that do not transact with the public.
Councilor Edgar Ibuyan Sr. on Tuesday said the proposed amendment to the existing CCTV ordinance was returned to the committee level after he introduced new provisions to it.
Ibuyan said he wants the maximum penalty for violating the existing ordinance with a fine of P5,000 and revocation of business permits once the establishments fail to comply with the ordinance.
Councilor Victorio Advincula, on the other hand, also wanted to impose higher resolutions for the CCTV cameras.
Councilor Tomas Monteverde IV said the series of crimes in the city resulted to the inclusion of the amendment.
“We are not trying to intervene in your private life. This is made to enhance police investigation,” Monteverde said.
The existing ordinance requires all establishments in Davao with a minimum capitalization of P3 million and above, including banks, pawnshops, restaurants, shopping malls, hotels and inns, educational institutions, hospitals and medical institutions, gaming cockpits and private transportations terminal operating land, air, and sea to install CCTV cameras.
Meanwhile, Davao City Police Office (DCPO) director Sr. Supt. Vicente Danao Jr. said a task group is formed to fast-track the resolution of this high-profile case.
The task force is composed of investigators in Davao City and Cebu City.
As per testimony of the witnesses, Danao said the gunman of King is in his 30s, at least 5’5” in height, weighs at least 65 kilos and has fair complexion.
King was the chair and chief executive officer of J. King & Sons Co. Inc., developer of Crown Regency, Club Ultima and the City Suites Ramos Tower.
He was also the founder and director of Boracay Multiple Properties Inc.
Tan, who has worked with King since 2006, described the businessman as a visionary.
Duterte said the recent spate of crimes is considered as a breakdown of law and order in the city.
"Dugay pa ni masulbad pero, somehow, naa man ta Ginoo. Mugawas ra gyud na labi na mga hitman. One day madakpan na, sa usa nila katrabaho mupiya-it nana," he said.
Duterte also said the entrance of the gunman to the establishment while a gathering was ongoing was "brazen."
"Lisud to ilhon kay walay cover-cover eh. Murag mga Sparrow kaniadto," he said.