Manila Traffic Enforcers To Wear Body Cameras Starting This Year

Starting 2017, all Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB) members are required to wear body cameras to avoid "under-the-table" transactions between traffic enforcers and violators.

This move was initiated by Manila Mayor Joseph "Erap" Estrada, after terminating 690 members of the MTPB following many complaints from motorists concerning their alleged extortion activities.

Reasons for body camera introduction

According to Estrada, many law enforcement agencies in other countries use body and dashboard cameras in their vehicles to record encounters with motorists and criminals. “We’ve been thinking of ways to cut down corruption and misbehavior among MTPB enforcers, and we believe the use of body cams is an effective way,” Estrada said.

MTPB Chief Dennis Alcoreza supports Estrada’s appeal, and also stated that the body camera will serve as objective evidence on the actual event where the enforcers apprehend traffic violators instead of self-serving hearsays.

“We have to balance it out, for all we know the apprehended motorist is just making up stories to pin down the hapless enforcer and get away with his violation. We’ll get to see the entire situation,” Alcoreza stated, adding that the body cameras will also serve as protection for traffic enforcers against abusive or unscrupulous motorists.

One body camera costs around P8,500 to P12,000 per unit. According to Alcoreza, "Our target is one body cam per enforcer, plus a communication radio. We initially plan to procure 100 body cams by April."

Only the first batch of 92 new enforcers are undergoing training to replace the dismissed 690 MTPB members. According to Estrada, they are more competent, disciplined and incorruptible.

Rules for recording traffic violations on video

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) previously released the rules for enforcers who are trying to capture a traffic violation on video. Here's the complete list of the MMDA's rules of engagement:

1. The use of video cameras should be traffic violation-related.
2. There should be a causal relationship between the event being recorded and the perceived traffic violation.
3. The video recording should not be intrusive.
4. The video recording should be sufficient enough for evidentiary purposes.
5. Should the other party request a copy, he or she should be given the said copy.
6. Assaults (verbal and physical) usually involving personal safety of the unarmed traffic enforcer can be video-taped subject to the nos. 1 - 5.
7. The enforcer can likewise be video-taped by the motorists or the general public subject to nos. 1 - 6.
8. In other cases involving public general safety, (i.e. snatching, holdups, fires or floods), the procedures mentioned can be used, taking into consideration the personal safety of the traffic enforcer.