CHR expresses support to PNP’s CCTV project

By Ronron
October 11, 2007

The Commission on Human Rights expressed support on Thursday to the closed-circuit television (CCTV) project of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Metro Manila, allaying fears that it could be used to pry on private activities.

CHR Commissioner in charge for Metro Manila Wilhelm Soriano said the CCTV project should not be feared by the public because these are installed only in public places.

“This is not an invasion to rights to privacy because there is no compulsion,” Soriano said in a news conference yesterday afternoon at the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) headquarters in Taguig City during the launching of the CCTV program.

“My presence here as Commissioner in Charge for the NCR is clear manifestation that we are supporting this program,” he added.

The PNP has started using CCTV cameras in Metro Manila last August during the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM), PNP chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. had earlier announced.

It was preceded by a similar project in Cebu during the ASEAN Summit in January of this year.

NCRPO chief Director Geary Barias said that out of the 56 cameras, only 22 were being used and are actually working as of yesterday because there is no need for the rest yet.

Among the places with cameras are the Sandiganbayan area in Queozn City, EDSA Magallanes, EDSA Ortigas, EDSA Ayala Avenue, and Mendiola in Manila City.

All the video images captured are then fed directly to the Central Command Center at the NCRPO, and these may also be transmitted to a remote Command Center at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

“With the operationalization of the Security Camera Surveillance System, we expect and anticipate the reduction of crimes in the streets of Metro Manila, especially in crime-prone areas where most of the cameras were installed,” Barias said.

Razon equated the capability of each camera to 10 policemen on field.

“The surveillance cameras and dispatch radio equipment will augment our PNP personnel in its daily tasks of conducting beat patrol and police visibility. It will help monitor the post of PNP personnel in strategic locations, which can be directed to respond immediately to any police assistance calls within the vicinity,” said Barias.

Soriano ageed with Barias and Razon, saying he recognizes the program as means to improve crime prevention.

Razon said there are plans to replicate the project in key cities of the country like Cebu City, Davao City and Baguio City, as well as integrate the current system in the capital with that of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

“We are also in the process of studying the possibility of entering into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Metro Manila Development Authority to link up with the Camera Surveillance System for traffic control and road safety and security monitoring,” Barias said.

Razon reiterated his appeal to private businesses to put up their own cameras as well to augment those of the PNP and the MMDA./DMS