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Cops in special polls to wear body cams

By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan

May 19, 2022, 4:13 pm

MANILA – Philippine National Police (PNP) director for operations, Maj. Gen. Valeriano de Leon, on Thursday said that body-worn cameras will be used by police officers who will be deployed to secure the special elections in 12 barangays in Lanao del Sur to ensure that all operations and responses for the conduct of peaceful and credible polls are well-documented.

He added that the use of body-worn cameras would be greatly useful not only for transparency on the part of PNP personnel but also in any legal offensive against those who would dare to sabotage or influence the results of the special polls.

"I've merely given them orders to use them (body cam) to ensure transparency, adequate monitoring, and documentation," De Leon said. "All accessible body-worn cameras in the surrounding regions will be deployed to the area so that even higher level commanders will be able to monitor those being used by our personnel on the ground through a real-time video feed," he added.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has scheduled the holding of special elections on May 24 in 12 barangays in the municipality of Tubaran, Lanao del Sur as it was earlier declared failure of election in these areas due to security concerns.

Police officers designated as Special Board of Inspectors (SBEIs), policemen who will secure the perimeters of precincts, and respond against vote-buying and flying voters.

Last year, the PNP purchased over 3,000 body-worn cameras, which were distributed to police units, especially in urban areas, in an effort to ensure openness and accountability amid charges of human rights violations in illegal drug operations. (PNA) 

 

 

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