PSSLAI donates 5 sets of bodycams as PNP takes initiative to get more from donors
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has taken the initiative of soliciting body-worn cameras (BWCs) from local government units and the private sector in a bid to equip as many of its police units with the gadget which is seen as a tool to ensure transparency in the conduct of operations, especially those related to the illegal drugs.
On Thursday, July 8, PNP Chief Police General Guillermo Lorenzo T Eleazar said the Public Safety Savings and Loans Association, INC (PSSLAI) has committed to donate five sets of BWCs.The PSSLAI is a financial institution that caters to the financial needs and stability of police and jail management personnel.
Each BWC set costs approximately P2 million, which include 16 cameras and other accessories.
The PNP launched the body-worn camera system on June 4 to ensure transparency and legitimacy of law-enforcement operations. Initially, a total of 2,696 body cameras have been distributed to 171 police stations and offices.
But according to Eleazar, the PNP still needs approximately 30,000 more sets of BWCs in order to cover all police stations and units of the police organization.
“I understand that it will take billions of fund from the national government to complete the 30,000 units of body-worn cameras that the PNP still needs so we took the initiative of strengthening our partnership with the LGUs and private individuals and groups to help us," said Eleazar.
He said the initial objective is to equip the Provincial and Station Drug Enforcement Units as well as the National Support Units that include the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), the Maritime Group (MG) and the Highway Patrol Group (HPG).
Aside from PSSLAI, Eleazar said other private groups such as the Ayala Foundation have already signified intention to help the PNP procure more BWCs.
He said the PNP is now drafting a fact sheet, which will serve as a guide for donors, containing all the specifications of a body-worn camera that is compatible with the system recently procured by the PNP.