MANILA - The nation's top cop defended Thursday the Philippine National Police's purchase of 48 bomb-sniffing dogs instead of body cameras that can be used in anti-illegal drug operations.

PNP chief Director General Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa said the additional K9 units were purchased under the 2017 budget to help prevent the "threat of ISIS and terrorism" in the country.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto earlier revealed each dog is worth P511,672.

• Instead of body cams, PNP bought 48 bomb-sniffing dogs worth over P500k each: Recto

"Can you prevent bombs from exploding with body cams? No. But you can prevent that with bomb-sniffing dogs," Dela Rosa said in a press conference at Camp Bagong Diwa.

"Kanya-kanya tayong priority. Siguro sa mga kritiko, priority nila 'yung mga body camera because talagang naghahanap sila ng butas sa aming operation."

Dela Rosa noted that the bomb-sniffing dogs are used to sniff out explosives in the country's airports. He said the additional bomb-sniffing dogs will serve the police for 15 years.

"Delikado ang mga airports natin kung ang [Aviation Security] Group ay walang mga bomb-sniffing dogs na magbabantay sa ating mga airport. 'Yun po ang aming priority," he added.

The PNP now has a total of 208 K9 units capable of responding to bomb threats. The newly purchased dogs are currently training in Alfonso Cavite.

Dela Rosa said the procurement of body cameras is underway as they have already set aside P334 million for the purchase of these gadgets. He said they are expecting the arrival of the PNP's body cams in June.

Recto earlier criticized the PNP for prioritizing the bomb-sniffing dogs over body cams that would boost transparency in their anti-illegal drug operations.

"Doon sa P1.9 billion na release, may nakalaan para sa machine guns, boats, motorcycles, anti-riot gear, body vests, pati aso, pero medyo nakaligtaan ang body cams," Recto said in a statement.