PNP needs 42,300 body cameras

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police needs at least 42,300 body cameras to meet the demand for recording operations such as executing arrest or search warrants, a PNP official said yesterday.

Only 2,700 police officers are equipped with the device, according to PNP public information officer Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan.

“We lack body cameras right now. Our requirement for that is something like 45,000, but we only have 2,700. Our police officers with issued body cameras are very, very limited,” Maranan said in Filipino during a dzBB interview.

He said the PNP aims to acquire more body cameras and has requested the budget allocation from the Department of Budget and Management.

The request follows the fatal shooting of Jerhode Baltazar, 17, by six police officers in Navotas City on Aug. 2.

Five of the lawmen did not wear body cameras during the incident, which could have provided crucial evidence regarding the events leading to the shooting, Maranan said.

The lone police officer who was equipped with a body camera reportedly ran out of batteries.

Maranan said a dead battery is “not an acceptable reason because being a responsible officer, when you use your body camera, it must be fully charged when you start (your) duty.”

Baltazar was on his way to fish when he was shot dead by police officers who allegedly mistook him for a murder suspect.