PNP deploys body cameras to prevent abuses in ECQ enforcement

The Philippine police on Monday fielded its body-worn cameras to prevent abuses during the implementation of COVID-19 protocols during the two-week enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Police General Guillermo Eleazar said the recording devices deployed in May this year were being used by various police units in Metro Manila.

“Mahalaga din na magamit ang ating mga body-worn cameras ng madalas para masanay na hindi lamang ang ating mga kapulisan na gagamit ng mga ito kundi pati na rin ang aming mga commanders sa aspeto ng command and control at ang iba pa nating mga personnel na naka-assign naman sa technical assistance sa paggamit ng mga ito,” Eleazar said in a statement.

(It is better to use the body-worn cameras all the time so that police and station commanders will get used to using them in terms of command and control. It will also help personnel assigned for technical assistance when using these cameras.)

Camp Crame, PNP's Headquarters in Quezon City, also has a command center that receives live video feeds of the body-worn cameras, Eleazar said.

Furthermore, police officers deployed in quarantine control points that were established at boundaries in Metro Manila were being monitored.

The PNP was able to procure nearly 3,000 units of body-worn cameras in the wake of human rights violations during the bloody drug war in which thousands of drug suspects were killed.

Last July, the high court approved the resolution for guidelines in using the cameras during serving search and arrest warrants.

During the more than a year of quarantine restrictions, the country's police force was involved in several incidents during its enforcement. — DVM, GMA News