PNP chief Bato defends procurement of K9 dogs over body cameras

Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa defended Thursday the procurement of bomb-sniffing dogs over body cameras.

“Can you prevent a bomb from exploding with a body camera? No. But you can prevent it  with bomb-sniffing dogs,” Dela Rosa said during a press conference.

“Sa threat ng IS at terrorism, maraming buhay ang mawawala. Delikado ang airports pag walang bomb sniffing dogs,” he added.

He said the 48 bomb-sniffing dogs, worth P545,000 each, will serve the police force for 15 years.

He said with the procurement, the PNP now has 208 bomb-sniffing dogs.

Dela Rosa added that included in the budget per dog are food supplies and training of both the K9 and the handler.

He admitted they did not include in the 2017 budget, which was crafted in 2016, the body cameras because they did not see the necessity at the time.

He said the deaths of Kian delos Santos and Carl Angelo Arnaiz and the clamor of the public prompted them to purchase body cameras.

“During the crafting of 2017 budget in 2016, less priority ang body cams. Sa paggawa ng 2018 budget, we already [felt] the heat, nagre-react kami sa [mga] kritiko. Hindi kami manhid,” he said.

Body cams by June

Dela Rosa said there is a possibility that the PNP will receive the body cameras by June as the Bids and Awards Committee will meet with the interested suppliers Monday.

He assured the public that the PNP has no intention of delaying the purchase of body cameras.

“Hindi kami nagdi-dilly dally. The more na wala yan, the more na uneasy ang critics namin,” he said.

He added that they wanted to follow the procurement process to the letter.

“Kung hindi kailangan ng bidding, bili na lang kami diyan. Gusto n’yo makulong kami dahil hindi sinunod ang bidding process?” he said. — RSJ, GMA News