PNP spokesperson agrees body cams ‘advantageous’ during drug ops

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday insisted that body cameras were advantageous in anti-illegal drugs operations.

"Mas nakikita natin ang advantage ng pagkakaroon nitong body cameras na ito. Sa ngayon, mayroon naman tayong nakahanda na na mga protocols kung may mga dapat gawin at ano 'yung mga dapat nating iwasan," PNP spokesman Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac told reporters.

House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano had earlier claimed that body cameras could endanger the lives of policemen.

“Halimbawa, sa buy-bust kung nahalata ka na may camera or recording na ano, delikado ang buhay mo. Kaya sa buy-bust, talagang kontrolado ng law enforcers ‘yung sitwasyon. ‘Yung camera, nakatago. Nasa relo; nasa mesa,” Cayetano had said.

Vice President Leni Robredo, the newly-appointed drug czar, had argued that body cameras were important in drug operations as it protected both law enforcement agents and the public.

Robredo would thus look into whether the government needrf to invest in body cameras.

Earlier, PNP officer-in-charge Police Lieutenant General Archie Francisco Gamboa said police they could acquire at least 3,000 body cameras by 2020 if the post-qualification process of bidders was completed before the year ended.

Gamboa said the PNP could also utilize the body cameras in their other law enforcement functions and other operations. — DVM, GMA News