IT’S BIG BROTHER versus the bad guys.
Spy cameras will be used by policemen in civilian outfit in a “Big-Brother” like, see-and-catch operation against robbers, snatchers and drug pushers in the University Belt (U-belt).
The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) ordered the new measure and told the Varsitarian that the footages from the cameras will be used as evidence against law breakers.
“The camera footages are legally accepted in courts as evidence against criminals since these are taken in public places,” Colonel Agrimiro Cruz, NCRPO public information office chief, said. “If banks could use spy camera footages as pieces of evidence, then we are legally allowed to use our footages for the same purpose.”
Cruz, however, said that although the police have received the go signal from NCRPO chief Vidal Querol, the police have not started the operation as the program still lacks funds.
Ariel Caramoan, a police officer from the U-Belt precinct, said the expected cases of robbery, snatching and drug-pushing will rise this month as students return to school. He is calling for an immediate implementation of the “Big Brother” measure.
But Secretary General Fr. Isidro Abaño O.P. said University officials have not been informed of the NCRPO’s plans.
“They have not yet discussed with the administration this matter and we do not know yet the details of the implementation,” Abaño said. “These efforts are overdue as two of our students were killed last year.”
Last October and February respectively, Nursing sophomore Jef Morty Lonyapon and Sports Science sophomore Randal Von Antolin were killed at the hands of robbers. L. J. D. Postrado
