Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 28) — The Philippine National Police (PNP) is set to realign some 2,700 body-worn cameras to police officers stationed at Commission on Elections (Comelec) checkpoints to ensure that they will be observing proper decorum.
“‘Yung ating 2,700 na body-worn camera na naka-issue sa ating mga kapulisan nationwide ay ire-realign natin at dadalhin natin doon sa mga Comelec checkpoints,” PNP Public Information Office chief Brig. Gen. Rederico Maranan said on Monday.
[Translation: Our 2,700 body-worn cameras issued to police officers nationwide will be realigned and brought to Comelec checkpoints.]
The election and gun ban period for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) in October officially began on Monday.
READ: COC filing, gun ban for BSKE period begins
The PNP said they are still waiting for the Comelec resolution on areas where these body-worn cameras will be used.
Police previously said that they have identified 27 hotspots nationwide.
“‘Yung 27 na sinasabi ng PNP ay ‘yun ay sa amin lang and we will still wait for the en banc resolution coming from the Comelec para ma-finalize ‘yung talagang mga nasa red category after workshop and validation,” Maranan said.
[Translation: The 27 areas are only from the PNP and we will still wait for the en banc resolution coming from the Comelec to finalize the areas that are in the red category after the workshop and validation.]
According to the PNP, aside from ensuring that proper procedures are followed, these cameras will also serve as protection for police officers against accusations of abuse.
The police will be exercising the plain view doctrine in checkpoints. This means motorists need only to lower their windows and turn on the lights inside their vehicles when passing through the checkpoints.
The PNP gave assurance that utmost courtesy and respect for human rights will be exercised by police personnel deployed at checkpoints.
Regional directors have been ordered to supervise directly the checkpoints and ensure that police officers conduct procedures in well-lit areas, wear proper uniforms, and use marked vehicles, Maranan said.
“Sundin to the letter ‘yung ating police operational procedures at siyempre ‘yung pinakamahalaga yung strict observance of human rights at pagiging courteous sa mga passing motorists,” he added.
[Translation: Police operations procedures should be followed to the letter, and most importantly strict observance of human rights and be courteous to passing motorists.]
