QUEZON CITY -- Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, Police General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar assured that all police personnel are trained and oriented into a human rights-based approach to law enforcement.

PGen Eleazar said that transparency and accountability are high on the police organization’s primary considerations in crafting its programs and policies.

The PNP Chief gave the assurance following a call by human rights advocacy group Center for International Law (CenterLaw) for law enforcers to respect, protect and fulfill human rights even when no one is watching.

CenterLaw said that while it welcomes the use of body-worn cameras in police operations, it still did not guarantee human rights won’t be abused by policemen.

“Bago pa man ang panawagan na ito ay kasama na sa training program ng mga pulis ang pagrespeto sa karapatang pantao at patuloy naming ipinatutupad ang mga alituntunin upang hindi ito malalabag at maparusahan naman ang mga pulis na lalabag dito,” PGen Eleazar said.

He added, “Marami na ang naparusahan sa aming hanay.”

The PNP Chief pointed out, “Lilinawin ko lamang na ang inilabas na alituntunin sa paggamit ng body-worn cameras ay produkto ng pagtutulungan ng PNP pati na din ng Korte Suprema kaya ito ay nagpapatunay na kaisa ninyo kami sa pagsulong hindi lamang ng human rights-based approach in law enforcement kungdi na din ng transparency at accountability sa aming mga operasyon.”

A PNP technical working group is currently working on incorporating the Supreme Court-issued guidelines on body-worn camera use into the Police Operational Procedures.

The PNP is consulting closely with the Supreme Court on this process. (PNP-PIO)