The Philippine National Police (PNP) targets procuring at least 45,000 body-worn cameras (BWC) by next year to be used for recording incidents during operations.

In a radio interview on Sunday, PNP Public Information Office chief Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan said that the entire police force only had a total of 2,700 BWC, a limited number of pieces of equipment to use during the operations.

Based on the data, it shows that the PNP only added around 100 cameras to the 2,600 that the agency counted in its inventory when it was first purchased in 2021.

Maranan added that their office had already requested the budget from the Department of Budget and Management.

Moreover, Maranan confirmed that one of the six Navotas City cops who killed the 17-year-old Jemboy Baltazar had a BWC but did not use it during the operations.

He said that in the Navotas teen slaying incident, which was included in their investigation, they found out that the police officer wearing the BWC did not use it, claiming that the battery was depleted.

The PNP PIO chief further explained that the excuse was unacceptable since a responsible officer must ensure that the BWC is fully charged when coming to work.

Meanwhile, Baltazar was shot dead in a case of mistaken identity as a murder suspect.

The six cops involved in the incident faced charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and are now detained at the Navotas City Police Station.