Dela Rosa: Buy body cameras? We can't even afford guns and bullets

MANILA, Philippines — “Hirap nga tayo bumili ng bala at baril para sa mga tao natin e camera pa iniisip niyo.”

This was the response of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa to the proposed law submitted by Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon for arresting police officers to wear body cameras during operation.

The use of body cameras is not on the priority list, Dela Rosa said, adding that to “satisfy” his critics is the least of his concerns.

“Unahin muna namin ‘yung basic na pangangailangan ng mga tauhan namin to defend themselves not to defend the other party,” Dela Rosa explained before his meeting with the regional directors on Tuesday at Camp Crame.

READ: Bato to Ping: Thanks, but we won’t lose cool at Senate probe

“’Yun ang iniisip namin ngayon, last priority ko na ‘yung pag-satisfy ng mga critics na ‘yan. Hindi ko sila i-satisfy para lang kumalma sila. Bahala sila,” he added.

Under House Bill 2741 or the Body Camera Bill filed by Biazon, policemen are required to wear body cameras to document their operation and to downplay the supposed human rights violations against suspects, including drug users and peddlers.

Biazon passed the bill amid the growing number of alleged extrajudicial killings or summary executions of already handcuffed suspects who reportedly resisted arrest.

In a television interview yesterday, Muntinlupa City Mayor Jaime Fresnedi claimed that the crime rate in his jurisdiction already went down, but he expressed alarm over the means the police use to solve crimes.

“Under custody na ng kapulisan and yet after a few minutes, maririnig natin sila ay nanlaban at napatay. Parang hindi na rin kapanipaniwala na ang naka-handcuff na nahuli ay gagamit ng baril para manlaban,” the Muntinlupa mayor said on GMA News TV’s News To Go on Monday.

READ: Muntinlupa mayor worries over PNP handling of drug suspects

The confident Dela Rosa and other PNP officials are set to face a Senate probe on the rising number of extrajudicial killings and summary executions of suspected criminals.

Former PNP chief and now Sen. Panfilo Lacson yesterday advised Dela Rosa and other PNP officials not to lose cool and not to panic when the senators grill them on Aug. 22 and 23.

“Nakahanda po kami wala kaming itatago. We will go there to the Senate with open hearts. Our hearts are clean, not tainted wala kaming dapat itago hindi kami magpa-panic,” Dela Rosa said in the same briefing.