PNP: Fewer abuses with body cameras

MANILA, Philippines — Police officers started using body-worn cameras in law enforcement operations yesterday, a development that Philippine National Police chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said will reduce human rights abuses committed by PNP personnel.

Eleazar led the launching of the PNP’s body-worn camera system at Camp Crame, wherein he discussed details about the program. He said it was first proposed in 2016 when Sen. Ronald dela Rosa was PNP chief, in response to reports of abuses committed by police officers implementing President Duterte’s war on drugs.

“These abuses are few, but this is what we want to happen – for these few to not happen,” Eleazar said in a news briefing.

Eleazar paid tribute to Kian Lloyd delos Santos, the 17-year-old boy who was killed by police anti-narcotics officers in an alleged shootout in Caloocan City in August 2017. However, an in-depth probe revealed that policemen killed him in cold blood.

Eleazar also acknowledged the police officers who died in anti-drug operations but whose heroism was tainted by allegations of wrongdoing by other lawmen.

The 2,696 body cameras, worth at least P288 million, were distributed to 171 police units in Metro Manila, including 38 police stations. Each unit received 16 body cameras.

Initially, the PNP wanted to train 8,088 police officers on the proper use of the body cameras, but due to restrictions brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, only 623 or about 7.7 percent completed training.

Eleazar said they will use the body cameras in law enforcement operations, including the service of search and arrest warrants.

Police officers will also use the gadgets during anti-drug operations, but Eleazar clarified that cameras should not be worn during drug stings as it could expose undercover police officers.

Eleazar gave assurance that the cameras are tamper-proof and cannot be manually turned off by those wearing them.

“More importantly, footage taken through the (cameras) cannot be erased easily as they are only accessible at the PNP Command Center,” he explained.

Eleazar warned that sanctions would be imposed on police officers who turn off the cameras without a valid reason.