Carlos: PNP still lacks body cameras, to accept donations from partners

The Philippine National Police said on Monday that they are still in need of body-worn cameras to record relevant incidents during the execution of  search or arrest warrants.

PNP Chief Police General Dionardo Carlos said during a press briefing that the body cameras they had were distributed to operating units and were being used by some patrollers.

“Base doon sa paggamit nito na pinalabas ng Supreme Court (SC), ‘yun ang aming sinusunod especially yung serving of the warrants para recorded kapag may kinoconduct na planned police operation. But, some of them habang wala hong ganung paggamit, sa regular patrollers nakikita ko na yung body-worn cameras. Kulang pa ho ito pero I think there are partners that are helping us procure by way of donations,” he said.

(We are following the guidelines issued by the SC, especially the serving of warrants so that they will be recorded while we conduct planned police operations. However, not everyone has a body-worn camera though I have seen them on regular patrollers. We still lack some, but I think our partners are helping us procure more through donations.)

According to the guidelines of the SC en Banc under Administrative Matter 21-06-08-SC dated June 29, 2021, in case of unavailability of body-worn cameras, law enforcers shall file a motion before the court to use alternative recording devices for justifiable reasons.

The police are mandated to notify the person being arrested and other subjects of the recording that the execution of the warrant of arrest is being recorded. The cameras must also be worn in a “conspicuous location” and in a manner that will maximize the ability to record the entire arrest.

Carlos said that he is also coordinating with the Directorate for Research and Development (DRD) in making specifications for these body cameras that would comply with the SC requirements and could be monitored in the agency’s digital app.

“Isa ho sa nakikita ko diyan kasi may specification yan eh, mataas ang specification. It's a system, not just a camera. So, meron kasi akong nakita na cellphone na using cellular signal, wifi signal and puwede ho mailagay yung digital frequency. At the same time, body camera din ho ‘yan," explainded the PNP Chief.

(We are looking at the specifications because it’s a system, not just a camera. I found out that digital frequencies can be placed using cellphones through cellular or wifi signals. At the same time, it can be used as a body camera too.)

“If we will have this kind of technology, it will help a lot in the performance of duties of our policemen on the ground,” he added. — DVM, GMA News