PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief Oscar Albayalde has ordered the relief of three intelligence officers who allegedly leaked an intelligence memorandum that instruct the policemen to conduct an inventory of public and private school teachers who are members of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT).
Albayalde said the intelligence chief of Manila Police District’s Station 3, Quezon City Police District’s (QCPD) Station 6, and chief of the intelligence unit of Zambales police were relieved pending investigation on their alleged negligence which resulted in the leakage of such confidential document that has caused “unnecessary panic” to the people.
“Well, number 1, if you are an intel officer hindi mo dapat ganun nagle-leak ‘yung mga ginagawa mo. Kaya nga intel officer if really merong utos na ganun hindi ba and especially so that we are creating an unnecessary panic ng mga tao na ito kung na-intimidate sila hindi ba. You have to do your job kung talagang discreetly you have to do it discreetly,” said Albayalde.
Earlier, ACT members condemned the PNP as well as the Department of Education (DepEd) for the said memorandum which might violate their privacy and rights.
They conducted a protest rally in front of the DepEd office in Pasig and urged the agency to take action against the said police order.
They also protested in front of the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame.
Manila Public School Teachers Association (MPSTA) president Solita Daz said the memorandum has sparked fear among their members.
“We're teachers, not terrorists. Wala rin po kaming masamang nagawa. Alam 'nyo iyon,” she said.
Daz said the profiling of ACT members started as early as November 2018. She said the police even entered the schools and talked to barangay officials to obtain a list of teachers who are ACT members.
"It might look like overreacting, but you don't know what goes on in the head of teachers. They also watch the news, not impossible to think they will be worried they will be next," she said.
Albayalde said he is not aware of such memorandum.
However, he said the ACT teachers should not be alarmed and that they have nothing to fear especially if they were not doing anything wrong.
“Although sabi nga natin this is not profiling. It has been part of our intelligence monitoring lang naman ito. Hindi naman ibig sabihin na kapag prinofile ka, remember if you are a member, kung talagang sila ay proud doon sa pagiging member ng ACT anong ikakatakot mo naman kung wala ka naman ginagawang masama. Kung hindi ka pala ano then don't be a member. Ang tanong dyan bakit ka takot if you are a member of that ACT,” said Albayalde.
“How can you use it as pangharass. We cannot use it as pang-harass. Not unless you are guilty of a crime. If you have a standing warrant based on the profiling then probably meron kang problema. Sabi ko nga kung wala naman tayong ginagawang masama why will we worry pero titingnan pa rin natin ito,” he added.
Meanwhile, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Guillermo Eleazar said the conduct of profiling on such an organization is “perfectly legal.”
"Repository kami (PNP) ng information. For our future reference, lalo na sa mga bagay na pwedeng magka-koneksyon sa ating programa,” he said.
"Rest assured, the NCRPO is evidence-based. Kung walang problema, walang dapat ikatakot. Wala kaming gagawin na illegal,” he added. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo/SunStar Philippines)