MANILA — A leader at the House of Representatives on Wednesday said the move to equip cops with body-worn cameras would help increase transparency in the administration’s continuing war against illegal drugs and criminality.
In a statement, House appropriations committee chairman Karlo Nograles said ample funds had been allocated under the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for 2018 in the purchase of body cameras for Philippine National Police (PNP) members to keep the country’s police force at par with their modern counterparts in other parts of the world.
“This is a big step toward modernizing our police force, and we are investing big money in it,” said Nograles.
“Under the recently signed national budget, we have allocated PHP334 million for the purchase of body cameras for police. This is more than 200 percent increase from its initial funding of PHP100 million,” he added.
The Davao City lawmaker stressed the need for the PNP to be deployed with body cameras as it would provide the public with more transparency during police operations, and would also serve as a handy tool for the law enforcers themselves.
“The apparatus will help police in evidence gathering, documentation, and post-operation assessment. There have also been reports from body cam-wearing cops overseas that arrested individuals admit to their offense quicker when they realize that their actions were recorded. It makes the job of the police easier,” he said.
According to the appropriations committee chair, the PNP has been allocated around PHP131 billion for 2018, PHP20-billion higher than the 2017 budget.
The 2018 GAA was signed by President Duterte in Malacañang on Tuesday. (PNA)
