More body cameras eyed for AFP combat troops

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 27): More body cameras eyed for AFP combat troops

Due to its usefulness in the Marawi City battlefield, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is looking to acquire more body cameras for its combat troops.

This was disclosed by AFP spokesperson Major Gen. Restituto Padilla after noting that the equipment proved very handy in documenting the various operations aimed at liberating the city from the clutches of the Maute Group terrorists.

He added that video clips taken during the heat of battle can prove useful in teaching new troops on what to do in the urban warfare battlefield.

"Bukod dun, malaking bagay ito sa pagsasalin ng mga natutunan sa mga nangyaring pangyayari ng sa ganoon iyung mga tropa natin na susunod may makukuha or mapupulot silang aral ng maiwasan na ang mga pagkakamaling nagawa na natin (Aside from that, this is important in teaching what we have learned in the past so that our troops will learn something in order to avoid errors.)," the AFP spokesperson stressed.

Padilla added they are not anticipating any funding problem for the project as body cameras are relatively cheap.

Also, in case the program is not included in the 2018 budget, the AFP spokesperson added it can be done through the so-called "request to re-program funds".

"Meron naman tinatawag na request to re-program funds kung sakaling may na-save sa mga bidding ng kagamitan dahil ang nakuhang bid ay mas mababa, yung natitira doon na mga savings maaari mo i-request na pambili ng mga ganitong klaseng kagamitan. Mura lang naman ito (We have this request to re-program funds if ever we have saved some from equipment bidding especially if we got a lower bid price for these. The funds saved from these, we can request for these to be used in acquiring this kind of equipment. This is not costly.)," he added.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php/articles/1017136