Why not?

Maybe Big Brother or the Eye in th Sky is the answer to all the  crime and violence in tis country.    

The use of closed-circuit television or even plain digital cameras have led to the identification and arrest of bank robbers, car thieves, and murderers in recent months.

Only criminals, terrorists, and the usual human rights talking heads and cry babies would oppose such a plan.

Clearly, the accuracy or clarity of CCTVs in providing images of crime in progress and suspects to law- enforcement agencies have been proven beyond a doubt.

Vehicular accidents are also quickly monitored and the wreckage quickly cleared to ensure smooth traffic flow. Even the Metro Manila Development Authority now uses scanners to identify drivers who violate speed limits.

But why limit the installation of CCTVs only in Metro Manila when they could be installed nationwide?

Singapore has installed them all over their small patch of territory, and look at how low the crime rate is in that island-state.

Actually, it has become a global thing in this 24/7, online, real-time world. In fact, ANC regularly beams images of key world capitals through Earth TV.              

And so we strongly urge the Aquino administration to consider the nationwide installation of CCTVs  and take the cue from the MMDA and the Quezon City government which announced it was installing some 4,000 surveillance cameras in 142 barangays to bolster its anti-crime campaign, especially against auto theft.

Mayor Herbert Bautista ordered the creation of a technical working group to oversee the setting up of a network of CCTVs on major and secondary roads.

Bautista tasked Tomasito Cruz, Planning and Development Office chief, to spearhead the project and coordinate with the QC police chief George Regis.

Cruz said the group would meet with the city’s peace and order council composed of local officials, police, and other stakeholders at Camp Karingal in Barangay Sikatuna.

He said the sites have been identified in 142 villages and commercial establishments.

Bautista said surveillance cameras would not only be used for crime prevention, but also for disaster preparedness and mitigation, and flood monitoring.

Aldrin Cuña, Bautista’s chief of staff, said Camp Crame and the barangays are being consulted to point crime-prone areas.

“We want to harmonize work with the other stakeholders. As far as I know, the National Police has its own plan to put up their own CCTVs,” he told a broadsheet.