WV’s city police stations told to religiously use body cams

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Body-worn cameras (BWC) issued to several police stations are now being used in law-enforcement operations.

Lieutenant Colonel Arnel Solis, Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 spokesperson, said police stations should religiously use these cameras both for theirs and the public’s protection.

Police units were allowed to use the body cameras after the PNP Directorate for Operations issued the guidelines on the use of the gadgets.

“This directive set several protocols for the use of BWC or alternative recording device,” Solis said.

Solis also assured that the guidelines will be followed by the PNP units in their operations such as serving of search and arrest warrants and anti-illegal drug operations.

“It’s for transparency. It will benefit both the subject and the police. Body cams will be used to record police enforcement and investigative purposes,” Solis said.

The cameras will help determine if police officers followed protocols during their operations.

Police stations in highly-urbanized and component cities in Western Visayas were issued 256 body-worn cameras last March 2021.

In policing equipment, a body camera or wearable camera, also known as body-worn video (BWV) or body-worn camera (BWC) or Bodycam (for short), is a wearable audio, video, or photographic recording system used to record events in which law enforcement officers are involved.

They are typically worn in the torso or chest area of an officer.

Body worn cameras for policing are often similar to other body worn video equipment used by civilians, firefighters, or the military, but are designed to address specific requirements related to law enforcement.

Police stations under the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) and the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) each received 16 BWCs.

Passi City, the only component city in Iloilo province, and Roxas City Police Station in Capiz province also got 16 cameras.

The bulk of the BWCs for PRO-6 were given to the 12 component cities in Negros Occidental – Bago, Cadiz, Escalante, Himamaylan, Kabankalan, La Carlota, Sagay, San Carlos, Silay, Sipalay, Talisay, and Victorias.

The cameras were issued along with desktops, docking stations, 4-bay network attached storage, monitors, UPS, and smart SIM.