ILOILO City – A total of 256 body cameras have been sent to 16 police stations in Western Visayas. These will be used for anti-drug operations and other activities.
Of the units, 192 were delivered to 12 police stations under the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO), 32 to Iloilo, and 16 each to the Roxas City police station and Bacolod City Police Office.
Here are the police stations that received body cameras:
NEGROS
* Bago City police station
* Cadiz City police station
* Escalante City police station
* Himamaylan City police station
* Kabankalan City police station
* La Carlota City police station
* Sagay City police station
* San Carlos City police station
* Silay City police station
* Sipalay City police Station
* Talisay City Police Station
* Victorias City Police Station
* Bacolod City Police Office
ILOILO
* Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO)
* Passi City police station
CAPIZ
* Roxas City police station
According to Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) spokesperson, Police Lieutenant Colonel Joem Malong, training is required prior to using the cameras. The training would include reconfiguration, technical requirement and how to take care and handle them.
“We could not use the cameras without undergoing training and (identifying) who are the persons allowed to use them. Hindi kita basta-basta makagamit kay dapat may training kita kag may control ina sa higher command,” Malong said.
Cops wearing body cameras would be unable to switch them off, and even if they do, it would be switched on again by a “controller” at the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) command centers.
The only limitation of the camera is its eight-hour battery life.
“Body cameras are a big help for transparency in the police organization especially in our campaign against illegal drugs and other operations,” Malong stressed. “Usually drug pushers claim that the recovered drugs are planted. This time it would be transparent and would ease doubts of the people.”
Malong said footages will be used as court evidence, too, as all operations are recorded.
More units will be coming in the next few months, she added.
On the other hand, Police Captain Shella Mae Sangrines, ICPO spokesperson, said six police stations were given two units each and one each for the offices of the Mobile Patrol Unit, Iloilo City Traffic, Iloilo City Police Mobile Force, and City Intelligence Unit.
“The 16 cameras were already here and we are waiting for the schedule of the training,” Sangrines said.
Earlier, police officers under the NOCPPO said they are also preparing for training./PN
