The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Friday it rolled out body cameras for select operations following public uproar over yet another viral shooting involving a policeman.
PNP Chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said the cameras would serve as the "eyes and ears" of law enforcement. The initial deployment includes 2,696 body cameras, given to 171 police units or just 8% of the total 32,136 units needed for all units in the country.
"My obligation now is to see to it that these body cameras are properly used as part of the commitment to honor the men and women of PNP who made this possible," Eleazar said.
Every police unit in Metro Manila received body-worn cameras, he said, with more expected to arrive.
Eleazar had apologized for the death of a 52-year-old woman at the hands of a policeman in Quezon City. It was the latest in a string of viral videos that put the spotlight on police brutality.
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Former police chief turned senator Ronald dela Rosa, the first PNP chief under the Duterte administration, was the first to promise the use of body cameras after the police killing of teen Kian delos Santos in 2017. The final acceptance document for the body cameras were signed by retired chief Debold Sinas before he stepped down early May 2021.
According to the PNP, body cameras could be used during these police operations:
- anti-illegal drug operations
- service of search warrants and warrants of arrest
- hostage rescue operations
- high-risk check/chokepoints operations
- security operations during the implementation of decision/orders of the court, quasi-judicial or administrative bodies
- security coverage during major events (ASEAN, SEA Games, SONA, national and local elections, festival, etc.)
PNP Directorate for Operations chief Major Gen. Alfred Corpuz said the command centers and police headquarters could override the use of body cameras in case the policemen wearing it turns it on or off.
"Kaya po nating i-on uli from the command center iyong pinatay ng police na body-worn camera so hindi po n'ya puwedeng dayain at kung meron siyang planong hindi gawing maganda during planned police operations."
Corpuz said the cameras could be tested during the President Rodrigo Duterte's last State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July.
