PNP to get more bulletproof vests upon approval of 2021 budget

Photo: PNP shows a bulletproof vest that saved the life of a SAF personnel during a police operation in Camarines Norte last Dec. 16. /PNP PIO

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP)  said on Sunday that it will procure additional bulletproof vests needed for anti-criminality and anti-drug operations once the 2021 budget gets approved.

“Kulang pa po at mahal din sila [bulletproof vest] Most likely with the [approval] of our 2021 budget, more vests may eventually be among the needed equipment sa uniform ng mga pulis ang magkakaroon ng procurement,” PNP spokesman Police Brigadier General Ildebrandi Usana said in a text message to INQUIRER.net, when asked about the logistics of the bulletproof vests.

(We lack bulletproof vests. Most likely with the approval of the budget, more vests may eventually be among the needed equipment for the uniform of police that will be for procurement.)

Earlier, PNP chief Police General Debold Sinas said he wants to acquire more vests to protect police personnel in the field from armed criminals.

“For years, we have been acquiring police equipment that would be used by our personnel in the field while fulfilling their duties as law enforcers. And this time we will acquire more bullet-proof vests to ensure the safety of our personnel whose lives are in peril in times of police operations,” Sinas said in a statement issued on Saturday.

Sinas said bulletproof vests will be provided for all personnel on “patrol, anti-illegal drugs and anti-kidnapping.”

Sinas said a Special Action Force personnel, who was wearing a bulletproof vest, survived a shootout with a suspected member of a gun-for-hire group in Labo, Camarines Norte last Dec. 16.

Sinas said Police Staff Sergeant Alex Tortogo Bayona, assigned at 94th Special Action Company, only suffered second degree burns in the chest after wearing a Tactical Gear Front Hard Ballistic Plate vest during the police operation.

The national budget for next year now only needs President Rodrigo Duterte’s approval after the Senate and the House of Representatives ratified the final version of the budget bill on Dec. 9.

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