BOC beats PNP in use of body cameras

On Aug 25, 2021

Bureau of Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero, with Deputy Commissioner Donato San Juan (IAG) and Deputy Commissioner Teddy Raval (EG), join Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC) chief executive officer, Dave Almarinez (besides Guerrero), during the live demonstration of the capabilities of the body cameras last August 27, 2021 at the BOC Operations Center, Port of Manila. The body cameras were procured by the BOC thru the PITC (photo credit: BOC-PIAD).

THE Bureau of Customs’ Enforcement Security Service (Customs Police) has ‘beaten’ the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the use of body cameras during operation with the delivery of 200 body cameras it purchased thru the Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC).

In a statement, the BOC said the ‘body cams’ shall be used by ESS personnel during, among others, the opening of containers and other field operations and shall be immediately distributed to all customs ports nationwide.

The PITC formally turned over the devices and their docking stations to the BOC last August 27, 2021. In attendance were the following:

PITC president and chief executive officer, Dave Almarinez; BOC Commissioner Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero; Deputy Commissioner of Enforcement Group, Atty. Teddy Sandy S. Raval; Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence Group, Raniel T. Ramiro; Deputy Commissioner of Internal Administration Group, Donato B. San Juan; Deputy Commissioner of Assessment and Operations Coordinating Group, Atty. Edward James A. Dy Buco; and, Deputy Commissioner of Management Information System and Technology Group, Allan C. Geronimo.

The devices can record video and voice as well as serve as a communication device between the user and the monitoring facility.

The docking stations for the body-worn cameras (inset) to be used by the Customs Police (Enforcement Security Service) of the Bureau of Customs. The stations shall receive all data (voice and video) being transmitted by the body cams and which can be monitored in real time by bureau officials for a more transparent field operation by bureau personnel (photo credit: BOC-PIAD).

The recorded data is transferred through the 17 docking stations that came with the units and can be monitored remotely by the Customs Operation Center (COC).

The use of body worn cameras by customs personnel is pursuant to Title II Chapter 3 of RA 10863 also known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).

On the other hand, despite a directive from the Supreme Court last June 29, 2021 for the PNP to use body cameras, especially when implementing search and arrest warrants, the PNP is still finding ‘difficulties’ in abiding with the high court’s instruction.

This, despite the PNP also having acquired more than 2,000 body cams since 2019 worth P289 million and which have already been distributed to various PNP units.

The SC compelled the PNP to use body cams during operations under AM No. 21-06-08 (Rules on the Use of Body-Worn Cameras in the Execution of Warrants), after receiving petitions protesting the increasing number of civilian deaths in the hands of the police “resulting from the execution of warrants issued by trial courts.”

Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero is also set to sign a customs memorandum on the use of the body cams in relation to the SC ruling.

In a brief statement, the BOC chief added the body cams are a welcome addition to the bureau’s continuing effort towards modernization, transparency and efficiency (updated: August 28, 2021).