Police intel officers relieved for 'leak' of memo on teachers' group
MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police Director General Oscar Albayalde ordered the relief of intelligence officers for "leaked" documents regarding the inventory of Alliance of Concerned Teachers members that he has disavowed.
In a press briefing Monday, Albayalde said the intelligence officers of precincts in the Quezon City Police District and Manila Police District as well as in the Zambales Provincial Police Office have been relieved from duty pending an investigation.
This, after the supposed PNP memoranda “ordering ‘all concerned’ to submit a list of all ACT members in every school” were released, prompting the group of teachers to assail the move.
The national police chief stressed the leakage of the memorandum caused panic among the members of ACT.
“You’re not supposed to leak what you are doing, if there is really an order like that, especially so if you are creating unnecessary panic among these people,” Albayalde said in a mix of English and Filipino.
He added: “You’re creating [panic]. That’s true, we understand their feelings.”
But in the same press briefing, Albayade maintained that he did not issue orders to compile a list of ACT members.
“As far as I’m concerned, I did not sign anything like that,” he said.
Albayalde also said: “That’s why I’ll check where it came from, what’s the basis. If it came from the Directorate for Intelligence, probably it’s just internal. I’m sure it’s just internal. The directors of different directorates in PNP can always give out memorandum especially if it falls under their functional jurisdiction… It does not have to be signed always by the Chief, PNP.”
He added members of ACT should not be concerned about police potentially compiling their information if they are not doing anything illegal.
Palace to ACT: No need to worry if you’re not doing anything illegal
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo stressed that members of ACT, which he called a legal organization identified with the left, should not be worried about being monitored if they are not doing anything illegal.
Panelo on alleged profiling of member of Alliance of Concerned Teachers: The policy is not to surveil teachers. Mahal ni presidente ang teachers. But if you are doing something illegal trabaho ng pulis i-monitor ginagawa mo | @alexisbromero
— Philstar.com (@PhilstarNews) January 7, 2019
“It is the duty of the PNP to monitor. If you’re not doing anything, why should you be afraid?” Panelo said in a press briefing Monday even as he pointed out that police leaders have denied ACT members are being profiled.
When asked what potential crime the teachers might be monitored for, Panelo responded: “What do the rebels want but to topple the government?”
RELATED: Duterte’s red-tagging endangers activists – militant groups
Identifying as a leftist is not a crime nor does it make one a rebel. President Rodrigo Duterte previously claimed to be the first president from the left but has since abandoned the claim after peace talks with communist rebels were scrapped.
ACT, in a statement Sunday, stressed it is a "legitimate teachers' organization with a long history of service to professional teachers, education support personnel, and the Filipino people in general."
"ACT unions hold the distinction of being the Sole and Exclusive Negotiating Agent for public school teachers in regions V, VII, and XI and in NCR; and with registered and accredited unions from the rest of the regions, constantly participating in dialogues and negotiations with DepEd and school officials for the advancement of teachers' welfare as well as the betterment of the country's basic education system," it also said.
ACT earlier likened the PNP’s memoranda to the 'tokhang' list of alleged drug personalities.
“Rather than waste its time on intimidating and harassing legitimate teachers’ organizations, the PNP should instead focus on apprehending big drug lords, plunderers, human rights violators, etc,” it said.
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