The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday said it supports the government’s plan to procure drones fitted with light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensors to aid search, tracking, and law enforcement operations, particularly in forested and hard-to-reach areas.

PNP Chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the proposed acquisition, to be led by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), would allow police units to locate suspects and map terrain obscured by thick vegetation.

LiDAR sensors generate ground maps by firing laser pulses that can pass through tree canopies, enabling operators to detect objects or movement beneath cover — a function standard aerial cameras cannot provide.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said he has clearance to purchase the drones. 

Nartatez said the drones would be used to support manhunts and field operations and to gather data over wide areas more quickly than ground teams. 

“As we aim to transition towards a technology-powered future through the use of drones and interconnected systems, we are also gearing to be at par with our counterparts overseas,” he said. 

He added that the PNP has been expanding its use of unmanned aerial systems for real-time monitoring and reconnaissance since last year.

“The PNP is determined to utilize these resources wisely not only to maximize our tactical advantage in law enforcement operations but also in protecting our personnel on the ground,” he further stressed. 

Details on the number of units, procurement timeline, and budget have not yet been released.