PNP defends ‘Oplan X-Men’ of Makati police

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa said yesterday there is nothing wrong with the reported profiling by the Makati police of transgender women dubbed “Oplan X-Men.”

According to Gamboa, the initiative of the Makati police to invite transgender women for profiling is part of its campaign against crimes.

“There is nothing irregular with the action of the police as long as the subjects would agree to it,” he said. 

Gamboa, a lawyer, said the situation is similar to people applying for loans in banks, where they are required to divulge personal information for verification purposes.

“I don’t think there is something wrong with that,” he said.

Members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT+) community denounced police operations where transgender women were supposedly picked up at random in Makati.

City police chief Col. Rogelio Simon denied there is a crackdown on LGBT+ members.

“It is part of our anti-crime drive. We are not singling out transgender women,” he said.

Gamboa explained that the situation is different during a custodial investigation when police officers are probing a specific crime.

He said policemen must be able to file charges or release the individual whom they took into custody if there is no evidence.

Gamboa urged the public to report police officers forcibly picking up people for questioning.