THE Philippine National Police (PNP) has deployed personnel armed with its recently-procured body-worn cameras (BWCs) in the implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila.
PNP Chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar said those deployed were among the BWCs that were distributed in various police units of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) in May this year.
“Our personnel on the ground have been dealing with a large number of people on a daily basis since Day One of the ECQ on August 6. These body-worn cameras will serve as the constant reminder for them to be courteous at all times and at the same time, their protection against claims and allegations of abuses,” said PGen. Eleazar.
“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,” he added.
On Monday, August 9, PGen Eleazar personally supervised the command and control of the use of BWCs of policemen manning and supervising the Quarantine Control Points (QCPS) that were set up at the boundaries of Metro Manila.
The Command Center was at the Camp Crame in Quezon City where technical experts of the PNP are receiving the live video feeds of the BWCs on the ground.
“With the real-time videos taken from various Metro Manila borders, including the traffic situation in QCPs, commanders can be assisted to make security adjustments and this can be relayed quickly to our ground personnel for immediate implementation,” said PGen Eleazar.
Last month, the Supreme Court’s Rules on the Use of Body-Worn Cameras in serving search and arrest warrants have already taken effect. This is an offshoot of the initiative of the PNP to get guidance from the High Court on the legal aspect of the use of BWCs.
Almost 3,000 BWCs were procured by the PNP from the Congressional allocation in 2017. After several delays, these BWCs were delivered early this year and PGen Eleazar, after his assumption as PNP Chief, immediately ordered their distribution to various police units, mostly in Metro Manila and other cities and urban areas in the country.