By Aaron Recuenco The Philippine National Police (PNP) is now finalizing the policy guidelines in the conduct of the anti-drugs operations with the use of body cameras. PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa said the bottom line of the policy guidelines is that no anti-drugs operations should be conducted by anti-narcotics policemen without the use of body-worn cameras. (MANILA BULLETIN) “We will be very careful this time. The use of body cameras is for transparency purposes to make sure that all the actions of our operatives on the ground are monitored,” said dela Rosa. But the issuance of the policy guidelines on the use of body cameras will only be issued once at least most of the anti-narcotics policemen are issued with body cameras. So far, dela Rosa said they are praying for the speedy procurement of body cameras for this year, especially that the PNP was already allowed to return to the war on drugs last month. It was recalled that the PNP was kicked out twice in the war on drugs—first was in January 2017 because of the Jee Ick Joo case wherein anti-narcotics office use the war on drugs in the kidnap-for-ransom and slay of the South Korean executive while the second one was in October also last year due to the deaths of Kian delos Santos and Carl Angelo Arnaiz that dragged down the ratings of President Duterte. Dela Rosa said they are banking on the budget allocation from the Congress in order to procure the body cameras. “Once they are delivered, we will be issuing a policy that no anti-drugs operation should be conducted without the use of body cameras,” said dela Rosa. Since the PNP has resumed the operation against illegal drugs personalities on December 5, only five suspected drug pushers and users were killed. A policeman was also killed. The data appeared to be in consonance with the declaration of dela Rosa that they would push for a less bloody war on drugs, although he stressed that death is inevitable in the aggressive anti-drugs war. Dela Rosa also vowed to give all for the remaining months of his position as Chief PNP, including the three-month extension given by President Duterte which gives him until April 21 this year to hold the top police post.