Police bares placement of 56 cameras all over MM to deter criminality and terrorism

By Ronron
October 5, 2007

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Avelino Razon, Jr. disclosed on Friday the strategic placement of 56 cameras all over Metro Manila as part of measures to deter criminality and terrorism.

In a news conference at Camp Crame, Razon said the closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras have been in place since the holding of the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in the country last August.

Razon was not immediately aware as to how much is the cost of the 56 CCTV units but he said there are plans to acquire more, they are even asking the private sector and local government units to contribute some units.

“Even a private citizen can put one camera at the gate of his house,” the police chief said.

Razon disclosed that some of the CCTV units have been placed in Baclaran in Paranaque City, in Quiapo in Manila City, and in Makati City. The rest are in “crime prone” areas.

All the information then go to Camp Crame, he said.

The end goal of the project is to place CCTV units in all key cities nationwide, Razon said.

But he assured that the cameras will not be used to violate human rights, and purposes other than detecting criminality and terrorism.

Razon noted that when he was in London last year, he was told that the July 2005 bombings there was solved partly because of video clips taken of the suspects from CCTV units.

And in the country, some bank robbery cases were solved also because of the same equipment, he said.

“So the next time you walk by, smile because there could be a camera following you,” Razon said in jest./DMS