MPD cops slam required 'religious' seminar

MANILA, Philippines - Members of the Manila’s Finest Brotherhood Association Inc. (MFBAI) criticized yesterday an order for them to attend a religious seminar, which they said violated their right to religious freedom.

Senior Police Officer 2 Virgo Villareal, a former MFBAI president, said some officials and personnel of the Manila Police District are protesting a memorandum ordering them to attend the quarterly “Purpose-Driven Life” seminar.

“We are not against religion. But they must also understand that not every one of us are Christians, or for that matter, Catholics. Some of us here are Muslims and members of other religious sects. Forcing us to attend that religious gathering, which is disguised as a seminar, is tantamount to violation of our freedom of religion,” Villareal said.

He said police officers aired their opposition to the seminar after reading a report in The STAR that Kabataan party-list Rep. Raymond Palatino filed a bill to ban religious symbols and the holding of religious ceremonies in government offices.

He said the order requiring them to attend the seminar was handed down during the time of MPD director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rongavilla and the current MPD director, Chief Superintendent Alex Gutierrez, has nothing to do with it.