The Philippine National Police (PNP) is ramping up efforts to equip frontline units with body-worn cameras to boost transparency and accountability in operations.

PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the PNP is preparing to receive body-worn cameras worth PHP800 million for deployment under the Unified 911 emergency response system, enabling real-time documentation of police response operations nationwide.

To ensure readiness, senior police officials were recently sent to London to check the status of about 17,000 body-worn cameras procured from a manufacturer there.

“The PNP is in the process of ensuring that all our units are equipped with body-worn cameras to guarantee transparency in all our operations,” Nartatez said in a statement on Monday.

“Transparency and accountability are integral part of our efforts to build a modern and professional police force that is fully trusted by the very people it vowed to serve and protect.”

Nartatez said the devices serve not only as oversight tools, but also as protection for both civilians and police officers.

“These body-worn cameras will greatly help in our measures to ensure that our police operations are always conducted in accordance with the law,” he said.

The procurement is part of the PNP’s continuing modernization program, aligned with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to strengthen accountability across the police service. (PNA)