REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10973, March 01, 2018

[ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10973, March 01, 2018 ]

AN ACT GRANTING THE CHIEF OF THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE (PNP) AND THE DIRECTOR AND THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR ADMINISTRATION OF THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION AND DETECTION GROUP (CIDG) THE AUTHORITY TO ADMINISTER OATH AND TO ISSUE SUBPOENA AND SUBPOENA DUCES TECUM, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6975, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT OF 1990"

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. A new Section 26-A shall be inserted after Section 26 of Republic Act No. 6975, which shall read as follows:

"SEC. 26-A. Subpoena Powers. - The Chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Director and the Deputy Director for Administration of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), referred to as the Criminal Investigation Unit in Section S5(b)(4) of this Act, shall have the power to administer oath, and issue subpoena and subpoena duces tecum in relation to its investigation: Provided, That such powers shall be exercised solely by the aforementioned officials and may not be further delegated to any other person or office.

'The subpoena shall state the nature and purpose of investigation, shall be directed to the person whose attendance is required, and in the case of a subpoena duces tecum, it shall also contain a reasonable description of the books, documents, or things demanded which must be relevant to the investigation.

"'Failure to comply with subpoena and subpoena, duces tecum shall authorize the filing of a case for indirect contempt under the Rules of Court with the Regional Trial Court."

SEC. 2. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act shall be declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not otherwise affected shall remain in force.

SEC. 3. Repealing Clause. - Any law, decree, ordinance, or administrative circular not consistent with any provision of this Act is hereby amended, repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 4. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,

(SGD.) PANTALEON D. ALVAREZ Speaker of the House of Representatives

(SGD.) AQUILINO "KOKO" PIMENTEL III President of the Senate

This Act which is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 1239 and House Bill No. 4863 was finally passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on December 6, 2017.

(SGD.) CESAR STRAIT PAREJA Secretary General House of Representatives

(SGD.) LUTGARDO B. BARBO Secretary of the Senate

Approved: MAR 01 2018

(SGD.) RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE President of the Philippines