PNP launches body-worn camera system for police operations

The Philippine National Police on Friday launched body-worn camera system for the police to ensure transparency and legitimacy of law-enforcement operations.

In the launching event, PNP chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar said that initially, a total of 2,696 units have been distributed to 171 police stations and offices.

All 20 city police offices and 108 city police stations nationwide are set to receive the body-worn cameras, Eleazar said.

PNP handout photo

In the National Capital Region Police Office, all five police districts and 15 city police stations as well as 12 police stations in Quezon City and 11 in Manila will also have the body-worn cameras.

Eleazar said the police organization needs 33,000 to 34,000 body-worn cameras to cover all the police units in the country, with 16 of the device per police station.

PNP’s body-worn camera system will be used for the following operation:

• anti-illegal drug operations, except where police operatives act as poseur buyers and perform test-buys; service of search warrant and warrant of arrest
• hostage rescue operations
• high risk check/chokepoint operations
• security operations during the implementation of decision/orders of the court, and quasi-judicial or administrative bodies
• security coverage during major events (such as ASEAN, SEA Games, SONA, national and local elections, festivals, among others)

Eleazar said the new system will allow the PNP Command Center to monitor the actual police operations of all units nationwide.

According to Eleazar, the new system in the PNP is a tribute to Kian delos Santos who died of police abuse in Caloocan City in 2017.

He added that the new system is also for the cops “whose ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty were tainted by claims of extra-judicial killings, planting of evidence and other unfair allegations.” —LBG, GMA News