The law enforcement officers (LEOs) of the Land Transportation Office (LTO-7) will soon be equipped with body-worn cameras in their operations.

This is after the LTO Central Office has deployed 46 body-worn cameras to the regional office to be used by the LEOs.

In an official turn-over ceremony on Sept. 2 at the LTO-7 Malasakit Service Center in Cebu City, LTO-7 Regional Director Victor Emmanuel Caindec showed to members of the media the body cameras awaiting the official implementation of the said devices.

"Whatever data being captured by the body cameras being worn by our enforcers are also available if and when necessary, even at our LTO Central office in the soon to be opening Operation Center," said Caindec.

He added that they have already completed the user training for the LEOs and the server administrator training on the usage of the body-worn cameras.

"Snce 2018, we have our enforcers already using body cameras pero dili ingon ani ka (but not this) advanced. Their body cameras, they use it for protection and also because we get a lot of complaints or contests on the apprehension. They have been instructed not just to utilize their body cameras but also the vehicle dashcam," said Caindec. 

He said both the central and the regional offices will have access to the server where the data of the body cameras will be kept.

"The system itself is being managed by LTO. In the past, katong body camera, pwede man gud to, I'm not saying nga gibuhat, but pwede man gud to nga they selectively on and off the camera," he added. 

The LTO-7 official also clarified that during a special operation, the enforcement officers will be tasked to turn on their body cameras to document the whole operation.

"If they're on official deployment for a specific operation, they are required to cover the entire operation," said Caindec.

These cameras will be given to all LTO-7 offices with law enforcement functions. 

Each enforcement officer will receive a dedicated kit with the body camera, body straps, and a spare battery that will last for eight hours.

The cameras will have an offline option where they can record the video, do live video, and has a global positioning system for tracking purposes.

No LEOs will have access to the server where the video will be uploaded, nor can they delete a video.

Caindec also clarified that these body cameras will be exclusive for LTO-7 enforcement officers only. (PR)