Body-worn cameras (BWCs) recently procured by the Philippine National Police (PNP) have been deployed in various border control points in Metro Manila in a move to facilitate the command and control of policemen on the ground especially during rush hours when monstrous traffic jams are expected.
PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar said the BWCs deployed were among those which were distributed to 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 do be courteous at all times and at the same time, their protection against claims and allegations of abuses,” said Eleazar.
Eleazar personally monitored the live feeds of videos from the BWCs worn by policemen manning various Quarantine Control Points (QCPs) which are located in various boundaries of Metro Manila.
The live video feeds from BWCs are flashed on a giant screen at the Command Center located at Camp Crame in Quezon City. These are regularly monitored by technical support teams of the PNP.
“Mahalaga din na magamit ang ating mga body-worn cameras ng madalas para masanay na hindi lamang ang ating mga kapulisan sa 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 (It is important to use these BWCs frequently in order for our personnel to get used to them and also for the commanders on the aspect of command and control, and for other personnel assigned for technical support),” said Eleazar.
“Sa pamamagitan ng mga real-time videos na nakukuha natin sa iba’t-ibang borders ng Metro Manila kabilang ang monitoring sa traffic situations sa mga QCPs, natutulungan ang mga commanders para sa anumang security adjustments at mabilis din itong naipapaabot sa ating mga personnel sa baba for immediate implementation (Through the real-time videos that are being captured in various borders in Metro Manila, these help our commanders for any security adjustment, and these adjustments, are immediately being relayed to our personnel on the ground),” he added.
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 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.