PNP seeks more funds for body cameras

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police is eyeing to acquire 32,136 more body cameras for other PNP stations and offices nationwide to ensure transparency and accountability in anti-crime operations.

PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar yesterday appealed to Congress to earmark more funds for the procurement of additional body cameras for police personnel involved in law enforcement operations.

He said police stations in the National Capital Region and key cities currently have 2,696 body cameras.

“We need additional body cameras to include other police support units,” Eleazar said.

“We will make use of what we have and hopefully, this would convince our lawmakers to fund additional body cameras for the PNP,” he added.

Eleazar plans to use the body cameras in serving court-issued search warrants to avoid allegations of irregularities.

He said this would serve as protection for the police operatives and the subject of the warrants.

“These body cameras will ensure transparency in police operations and, hopefully, put a stop to allegations that policemen are engaged in planting of evidence or even summary execution of suspects,” Eleazar said.