The Philippine National Police (PNP) is set to enforce new standard procedures for handling social media evidence in criminal investigations. This major policy shift follows the Supreme Court's recent release of specific guideposts aimed at proving ownership or control of online accounts.
New Protocols for Digital Evidence
In a press release issued on Sunday, PNP acting chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. announced that the new guidelines will empower investigators to properly authenticate digital evidence. This move is expected to result in more robust legal cases.
"For ongoing investigations, we will review digital evidence carefully, while future cases will be handled more systematically and transparently when it comes to social media posts," Nartatez stated. The directive comes after the high court affirmed the conviction of a man found guilty of harassing his former girlfriend on Facebook, using the case to establish clear evidentiary standards.
Supreme Court's Seven Guideposts
The Supreme Court outlined seven key guideposts for courts and law enforcement to follow when assessing social media evidence. These include:
- Admission of authorship
- Proof of account access
- Analysis of language patterns
- Digital device forensics
- Consistency of posts and content
Nartatez emphasized that this ruling strengthens due process in the digital era. "Now, a person can no longer be easily convicted based solely on a screenshot or post that may be fake or hacked," he explained. The clear procedures are designed to bolster public confidence in the country's justice system.
PNP Implementation and Public Advisory
Acting on the Supreme Court's guidelines, the PNP chief has ordered all police units to integrate these guideposts into their standard operating procedures. Simultaneously, cybercrime units are being outfitted with advanced tools to effectively trace and preserve online evidence.
The PNP is also coordinating with major social media platforms to facilitate faster account verification processes during investigations. Nartatez took the opportunity to advise the public on the proper way to report online offenses.
"Remember, do not try to hack or access accounts yourself. Just report the matter to the nearest police station or through our Anti-Cybercrime Group," he urged. This structured approach aims to ensure evidence integrity from the moment a report is filed.
