(File photo)
MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday assured the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) that mechanisms are in place to ensure data privacy in the use of body cameras in police operations.
“I assure the CHR that in the crafting and issuance of the Supreme Court’s guidelines on the use of body-worn cameras, data management, and privacy were given primary importance in our honorable Justices’ deliberations,” said PNP chief, Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, in a statement.
This came after the Supreme Court (SC) issued a resolution that includes rules on the use of body cameras in the execution of warrants issued by courts.
“Nakapaloob sa resolusyon ng Korte Suprema ang pagpapahalaga sa data privacy at ang pangangalaga sa mga impormasyong makakalap gamit ang mga body-worn cameras. Magpapatuloy din ang ugnayan natin sa National Privacy Commission hinggil sa bagay na ito (The Supreme Court resolution includes the importance of data privacy and the protection of information gathered using body-worn cameras. We are also continuously coordinating with the National Privacy Commission regarding this matter),” he added.
The CHR earlier expressed “high hopes” that the body cameras would result in more transparent police operations, which would bring back public trust in law enforcement.
Last month, the PNP distributed an initial 2,696 body cameras to 171 city police stations and offices nationwide.
Eleazar said the use of body cameras will soon be part of the police operational procedures throughout the country.
He also thanked Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo for supporting the PNP’s efforts to further professionalize the organization and to strengthen a human rights-based approach in the conduct of police operations.
The Directorate for Operations and the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management were tasked to come up with a recommendation on the composition of the technical working group (TWG) that will come up with modules to be used in the training and seminar programs on the legal aspect of the use of body cameras for police units which received the equipment last month.
Eleazar earlier said the police force needs around 30,000 body cameras for all police stations and units across the country. (PNA)
