Robredo says body cameras on gov’t agents a must during drug ops

Vice President Leni Robredo, the newly appointed drug czar, on Saturday said body cameras are a must during anti-illegal drugs operations in order to protect both law enforcement agents and the public.

"Indispensable 'yung body cams for many reasons. 'Yung pinakauna, proteksyon 'yun sa law enforcement agents. Proteksyon 'yun kasi ang iba naman sa kanila nakakasuhan nang walang basehan," Robredo told reporters at the 14th Indo-Pacific Conference of the Theosophical Society in Quezon City.

VP Leni Robredo delivers her speech at the 14th Indo-Pacific Conference of the Theosophical Society. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/lY2I6l1YWf

— Jamil Santos (@Jamil_Santos02) November 9, 2019

"Number two, mas lalong proteksyon sa mga tao, para kung ano talaga ang tunay na nangyari sa operasyon, merong basehan kung paano magpo-proceed," she added.

In the past, police officers have claimed drug suspects killed in buy-bust operations "fought back" (nanlaban). However, eyewitnesses in some cases have given accounts contradicting that of the police.

"Pero kung may body cams, 'yung integrity ng operasyon, mape-preserve," Robredo said.

Robredo said she will look into whether the government needed to invest in body cameras as she meets with the law enforcement cluster next week.

Robredo has accepted President Rodrigo Duterte's appointment of her as co-chairperson of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD), and already met with Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) chief Aaron Aquino and other ICAD members.

In the same interview, Robredo said she will not back down in joining an actual anti-drug operation, as long as the PDEA thinks she will not be a distraction in such an operation.

“Sa tingin ko ‘yung pag-aya pareho din ‘yun ng pag-aya ni pangulo. Wala tayong inuurungan na challenge. Pero sa akin ang mahalaga, ano ba ‘yung magiging resulta ng operasyon? Hindi naman ‘yung kung sino man ang nandoon. Pero kung aayain ako, pupunta ako," Robredo said.

"Pero ang pinakatanong lang, hindi ba ako makakaistorbo? Kasi ang sa akin, ‘pag merong mga istorbo lalong nako-compromise ‘yung operasyon. Pero kung sa willingness, willing ako kung tingin nila hindi ako makakaistorbo, I would gladly be there," she added. — MDM, GMA News