Gov. Petilla says this could avoid
complaint against PNP members
TACLOBAN CITY- Body cameras were distributed to the police stations in Baybay City and 41 municipal stations across the province to record their anti-drug operations.
By using a body camera, the issue of alleged police abuses during an anti-drug operation could easily be checked, said Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla.
Petilla led the distribution of the body cameras, which has also voice recording, during the March 21 provincial peace and order council meeting held at the provincial capitol building.
Leyte province the first local government unit in the region to distribute body cameras to police offices as identified as a priority project of the Provincial Anti-drug Abuse Council.
According to the governor, the body cameras are intended during an anti-drug operation which could be used as evidence in case there is a complaint of police abuses when carrying the operation.
Gov. Petilla said that the acquisition of the body cameras by the provincial government is a result of the discussion he had with Chief Superintendent Gilberto Cruz, police regional director, who distributed body cameras last year to city and police provincial offices.
“We want to erase doubt against our policemen during the conduct of police operations. That is why, we are providing body cameras to them. This will benefit them,” the governor said.
“If it is true that the suspect resisted the arrest, check the camera recording to erase doubt. Doubting our policemen is not good, let us give them a chance to fix the problem,” he added.
During the turn-over ceremony, police chiefs were taught how to use the body camera, which can also be used during night police operations.
Clamor for the PNP to use a body camera came after incident of anti-illegal drug operation where police operatives were accused of committing abuses, particularly om the death of 17-year-old Kian delos Santos in a drug raid in August 16, 2017.
Anti-illegal drug operations across the province covering the period of December 2017 to March 2018 resulted in the arrest of 46 individuals involved in illegal drug trade.
Operatives also confiscated 25.8892 grams of shabu and .9735 grams of marijuana.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
