|
By Francis Earl A. Cueto, Reporter
WITH bank robberies in the metropolis reaching
an alarming level, the city of San Juan will now require all banks
within the locality to install closed-circuit televisions (CCTVs)
that can help deter bank robberies and fight crime.
Councilor Dante Santiago, author of City
Ordinance 14-2007, said that using video monitoring devices can even
help identify the people behind the robbery and hold-ups.
Santiago added that despite the security
measures put up by banking institutions, fearless outlaws who are
mostly armed with deadly and high-powered weapons still manage
to successfully stage robbery and hold-ups.
“With the use of video cameras in and outside
of their place of operation, the banks can record all persons coming
in and out of their premises and monitor the goings-on inside,”
Santiago said.
According to the ordinance, daily video
recordings from the CCTVs must be stored and preserved for a minimum
period of at least 15 days for review purposes and reference. After
that period, the recordings shall be destroyed unless its
preservation is required by a court order, the local police or the
city mayor.
The bank authorities must also give the duly
authorized local authorities or police access to the CCTV recordings
or video tapes/footages if the occasion warrants. However, the
assigned officer or person in authority must show the written
authority issued to him for that matter.
Santiago, however, warned that it shall be
unlawful for any person to allow the unauthorized or unofficial use
or viewing of any saved video-recording from a CCTV.
Violators will be fined P5,000 plus a one-month
suspension of the establishment’s business permit and license to
operate. The revocation of the establishment’s business permit and
license can also be considered.
|
