PNP creates technical working group to study SC's body camera rules

Before using the body-worn cameras, Philippine National Police on Sunday said it created a technical working group to review the Supreme Court's recently approved rules for the mandatory use of the devices.

So far, 2,696 units were distributed to 171 police stations and offices during the launch of the newly-acquired body cameras. 

"Nag-create kami ng technical working group para po himay-himayin, pag-aralan at tapatan ng mga corresponding guidelines, magkaroon ng information dissemination para mapatupad nito. Bago ito kaya may adjustments tayong gagawin," PNP chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar said over Dobol B TV.

(We created a technical working group to review and create corresponding guidelines and information dissemination to implement these. These are new so we have to make adjustments.)

The use of body-worn cameras will professionalize the police force as well as deter excessive force among uniformed personnel, Eleazar said.

Eleazar also cited that under the high court's rules, alternative reporting devices such as cellphones can be used in police operations. This could help since only eight percent of the police force received the body-worn cameras, the PNP chief also pointed out.

Further, there will also be no tampering of data in body-worn cameras, he assured the public.

"Hindi naman basta basta puwede maka-access sa data dahil ito ay kino-consider na private...  'Yung data puwede maging public na puwede pagbasehan sa pag-iimbestiga. Siyempre ebidensya rin 'yun or in support to the evidence to be submitted sa korte sa mga kasong ipa-file sa pulis," the country's top police official said.

(No one can easily access this data because we consider it as private. It can made public if it can be used for investigation and evidence to be submitted to the court when filing a case against a policeman.)

Over the weekend, the Supreme Court approved the rules on implementing body-worn cameras. It said law enforcers must have at least one body-worn camera and one alternative recording device or such number needed to record the relevant incidents during the execution of search or arrest warrants.

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. —KG, GMA News