Senator Pangilinan wants PNP to have body-worn camera during police operation
Senator Pangilinan wants PNP to have body-worn camera during police operation
Senator
Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan calls for the immediate passage his Senate Bill 427
or the Body Camera Act requiring law enforcers to have body cameras that
records actual events during police operation.
The
said bill will provide valuable information and objection evidence during
investigations and civil or criminal litigation, most especially in cases when
the police use deadly force during operations against drugs.
Pangilian
said, “Proteksyon ito ng publiko sa maaaring pang-aabuso ng
kapangyarihan at karahasan ng mga pulis tulad ng pagtanim ng ebidensya, illegal
na pag-aresto at maging ng pagpatay (We need to protect the public against the
possibility of police abuse of power or use of violence such as planting of
evidence, illegal arrest, and even killings)”
“These cameras shall not be deactivated until operations have been concluded,” Pangilinan added.
Video
footages captured are subject to a retention period of six months from its
recording date, after which time the same are permanently deleted.
Law
enforcement officers, employees or agents who fail to comply with the recording
or retention requirements are subjected to appropriate disciplinary action.
Of
all Police Regional Offices, only PRO11 launched this approach under the
project name Tactical Action Camera (TAC). It
was launched in December 2015 under the leadership of PCI MARK KIM B AQUINO
(now PLTCOL AQUINO), former Second Manuever Company Commander of Regional
Mobile Force Battalion.
The
TAC project uses a Kevlar Helmet and a Go Pro Camera to be worn by police
personnel in every conduct of police operations. It can also be attached in the
uniform of PNP personnel depending on the need of situation.
The
use of body-worn cameras will serve as an effective remedial measure to restore
public trust on our law enforcement officers and protect them from wrongful
accusations of abuse or crime as a result of their lawful discharge of their
functions.
The
bill has been pending in the Senate since August 5, 2019.