Manila: The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday said it is preparing its units and personnel for the deployment of new artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled body-worn cameras to strengthen documentation, evidence preservation, and accountability during police operations. This is in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla to strengthen the use of technology in police operations while ensuring greater accountability and transparency.
According to Philippines News Agency, PNP Chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. said the technology will give police officers a more reliable record of their encounters with the public and operations in the field. 'The AI-enabled body cameras will enhance the PNP's capability to document police operations with clearer and more reliable footage. This will help preserve evidence, support investigations, and promote greater accountability among our personnel,' Nartatez said in a statement.
During the House Committee on Appropriations' briefing on the proposed budget of DILG, Remulla said the PNP is procuring 10,000 to 20,000 new AI-enabled body-worn cameras this year. The new units are expected to have superior lenses and image quality that will make them more suitable for AI processing. The procurement has already been bid out, with additional cameras to be purchased annually.
Nartatez said the expanded use of the technology will also provide protection for police officers by establishing an objective record of police encounters and operations. 'This technology will protect not only the public but also our police officers by providing an objective record of what transpired during police encounters and operations,' the top cop stressed. 'We assure the public that these body cameras will be used to strengthen transparency and accountability in police operations. We will ensure that our personnel use the technology properly and in accordance with existing laws and policies,' he added.
The rollout will also require coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and other concerned agencies on implementing guidelines for the AI features, as well as compliance with privacy and evidence-handling rules.
Meanwhile, Remulla on Thursday presented the DILG's proposed PHP332.5-billion budget for 2027 before the House of Representatives, vowing to ensure that public funds translate into efficient and meaningful services for Filipinos. Remulla said the proposed budget supports the department's priority programs and projects aimed at empowering local government units (LGUs), keeping communities safe, and strengthening emergency response.
'As we present the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Proposal of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, we ensure that every peso entrusted to the government translates into meaningful public service,' he said in a separate statement. Under the proposal, the PNP, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), the DILG's attached agencies for the uniformed services, received the three highest proposed allocations for 2027. The PNP's proposed PHP242.5-billion budget, which increased by 7 percent from the previous year, will support efforts to strengthen its ranks, intensify police operations, and construct new facilities.
Remulla said the DILG will continue working with Congress and the other branches of government to advance effective governance and deliver public service that Filipinos can feel and benefit from.
