Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa. Senate PRIB file photo / Henzberg Austria
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa on Tuesday lamented the slow delivery of body cameras for members of the Philippine National Police (PNP), saying the promise that it is already up for delivery has spanned five top cops but they have yet to see the equipment.
Dela Rosa, who is a former PNP chief himself, asked members of the PNP during a Senate dangerous drugs board hearing how many body cameras have been issued.
In response, Police Brig. Gen. Herminio Tadeo Jr. told Dela Rosa that he was informed that the body cams were for delivery.
“I was informed that these body-worn cameras are for delivery na raw. And we will inform on the status pag na-deliver,” Tadeo said.
The senator, however, then told Tadeo to expedite the delivery.
“Panahon ko pa ‘yun. Pumasok si Gen. [Oscar] Albayalde, sumunod si Gen. [Archie] Gamboa, then Gen. [Camilo] Cascolan, and now Gen. [Debold] Sinas, Naka-limang chief na, hindi pa rin na-deliver. Please follow up,” Dela Rosa lamented.
(That was still during my time. Then Gen. Albayalde came in, then Gen. Gamboa, then Gen. Cascolan and now Gen. Sinas. Five chiefs have already passed, and yet these haven’t been delivered yet.)
“Gusto kong makakita ng legitimate anti-drug operation ng PNP na may suot na body camera because that is a big clamor for the public,” he added.
(I want to see a legitimate anti-drug operation of the PNP where they have body cameras, because that is a big clamor for the public.)
In December, PNP spokesman Police Brig. Gen. Ildebrandi Usana said that police members remain committed to using body cameras, adding that the procurement for such equipment was underway.
Usana also noted that some members already had body cameras, such as those from the Special Action Force.
Before this, Cascolan previously said that the PNP was expecting the delivery of 2,600 body cameras for testing, with anti-drug operatives to be given priority.