PNP officer-in-charge, Lt. Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa. (File photo)
MANILA -- To further boost its operational capability, the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday has already chosen the proponent for the procurement of body cameras worth around PHP289 million that will be used in anti-illegal drugs operations.
Out of six proponents, PNP officer-in-charge, Lt. Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa said the project for the acquisition of Body-Worn Camera system for police operations was awarded to the EVI Distribution, a San Juan City-based company.
“This system is expected to equip our police units in support to our anti-criminality and anti-terrorism operations including mission-essential equipment for mobility and investigation,” Gamboa said in a statement.
"This includes taxes, duties, maintenance and its data system," he added.
Gamboa said the National Management and Monitoring Center was chosen to be the unified data hub of the body camera system.
Gamboa pointed out that the PNP would not only procure body cameras but also "sophisticated, reliable, and secure system which will allow complete system management, real-time live streaming, data storage and backup, and overall connectivity and monitoring".
Included in the procurement are connectivity systems, accessories, video management software, computer servers, and sufficient storage for the body cameras.
Meanwhile, the PNP Information Technology Management Service will man the monitoring center along with its 17 Regional Monitoring Centers, and 81 Provincial Monitoring Centers (PMCs).
Previously, Gamboa said that PNP was eyeing to use body cameras by 2020.
PNP spokesman, Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac earlier said President Rodrigo Duterte gave the PNP until December 10 to beat the deadline in choosing a proponent to buy body cameras.
Banac said that such action would make the police anti-illegal drug operations transparent in toppling high-value drug targets.
The country's police force was eyeing to buy 2,700 units of body cameras.
In 2017, the procurement of body cameras started following a public clamor over doubts on the police claims that the drug suspects killed in their operations had tried to engage them in a gunfight.
Congress has set aside more than PHP300 million for PNP's procurement of the body camera but its efforts since last year would always fail after an extortion attempt was exposed. (PNA)
