MANILA – To ensure transparency and accountability in police operations, the Philippine National Police (PNP) will start using body-worn cameras during operations next month, the Malacañang said.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said that using body cameras is the answer to excessive use of force by cops or soldiers during operations.
“Naririyan na po ang mga body cams, nagtiti-training na po tayo at inaasahan po natin magagamit na po ang mga body cams na ‘yan sa buwan ng Abril upang ng maiwasan na po ang pagduda ng taumbayan,” said Roque.
“‘Yang body cam po ay physical evidence at hindi magsisinungaling ang physical evidence,” he added. “Para malaman din ng taumbayan kung ano talaga ang mga pangyayari kung meron pong napatay.”
In 2019, the PNP has purchased a total of 2,696 body cameras worth P289 million. Said cameras will be issued to police units in their operations, particularly on anti-illegal drugs.
Calls for the police to use body cameras resurfaced following the series of police operations in Calabarzon region where nine activists were killed and six others were arrested.
Relatives of the victims said that policemen have used excessive force during the operations, while the cops claimed that they conducted a legitimate operation with search and arrest warrants from the court.
Roque, meanwhile, appealed to the European Union to allow the government to conduct its own probe on the incident as Malacañang assured to hold accountable any soldier or cop found to have murdered the activists.
“Impunity has no place in the Duterte administration. Whoever violated the law will be held accountable and will be punished under our laws,” said Roque.
“When it comes to the right to life, the obligation of the state is to investigate and punish those who violated human rights,” he added./PN
