Five House members want policemen to wear body cams
The House committee on public order and safety recently conducted deliberations on various measures mandating the members of the PNP and other law enforcement agencies to wear body cameras during their operations.
The various authors of the similar bills expressed their sentiments in a press statement released by the House of Representatives information office.
Representative Rozzano Rufino Biazon (Lone District, Muntinlupa City) explained that his House Bill 2741 titled “An Act Mandating Law Enforcement Personnel to Wear a Body Camera During Law Enforcement and Special Police Operations” aims to respect and protect human rights and at the same time protect the law enforcement officers from harm, death, or adverse legal action in carrying out their duties.
Biazon said that a body camera will protect both the suspects and law enforcers as it records what takes place during law enforcement and special police operations. It will also serve as a deterrent to the violation of the rights of suspects while law enforcers will also be protected from wrongful accusations.
Representative Lloren Cuaresma (Lone District, Nueva Vizcaya), author of HB 5830 titled “An Act Mandating All Enforcement Officers of All Government Institutions, Agencies and Subdivisions to Wear Body-Worn Cameras in their Operations to Promote Transparency, to Aid Administration of Justice and to Protect Citizens and Officers Alike" said the use of body cameras by law enforcement officers will help keep officers and citizens safe, enable situational awareness, and provide evidence for trial for any legal and administrative proceedings.
She cited the government’s intensified anti-drugs campaign where many policemen involved in the alleged killing of drug users and pushers said they only acted in self-defense, while the arrested suspects would argue that they were set-up by the arresting officers.
Representatives Aniceto Bertiz III (Partylist ACTS OFW), Gary Alejano (Party-list, Magdalo), and Romeo Acop (2nd District, Antipolo City) also shared the same idea.