PNP: Use of body cam, other recording device in police ops now mandatory

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said the use of body-worn cameras or alternative recording devices in police operation is now mandatory as the Supreme Court rules take effect.

In a statement, PNP chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar said a memorandum containing the general protocols has been issued in August 2 and it was addressed to all concerned police offices and units directors.

“Agad naglabas ng kautusan ang inyong PNP ng Memorandum Order sa lahat ng ating commanders na sumunod sa mga patakarang ito,” Eleazar said.

(The PNP immediately issued a memorandum order to all our commanders to follow these rules.)

Eleazar added that the memorandum states that the gadgets should not be turned off at any time while the execution of a search and arrest warrant or a warrantless arrest is going on.

In cases of valid warrantless arrests, Eleazar said the recording devices will be used as far as it is practicable.

“The memorandum also requires police operatives to, upon return of warrant, submit a copy of the video to the court along with an affidavit attesting to the facts and authenticity of the recording,” he added.

Due to the limited budget for the body cameras, the PNP said it is working with some local government units and other stakeholders for the donation of the recording device.

“Hindi sapat ang aming body-worn cameras (Our body-worn cameras are not enough),” Eleazar said.

“But in the spirit of transparency and accountability, I trust that our commanders will find ways to comply with the Supreme Court’s guidelines on the use of body-worn cameras,” he added.

On June 4, the PNP launched a body-worn camera system for the police to ensure transparency and legitimacy of law-enforcement operations.

Eleazar earlier said the PNP needs 33,000 to 34,000 body-worn cameras to cover all the police units in the country, with 16 of the devices per police station.

Initially, a total of 2,696 units have been distributed to 171 police stations and offices.

All 20 city police offices and 108 city police stations nationwide are set to receive the body-worn cameras, Eleazar said.

He said his target is to provide body cameras to at least all the provincial, city, and station level drug enforcement units to ease doubts and speculations in anti-illegal drugs operations of the PNP.

Almost 3,000 body cameras were procured recently from the fund allocated by the Congress, the PNP said. All of them were already distributed in city police stations, mostly in Metro Manila.—Joviland Rita/AOL, GMA News