Director General Oscar Albayalde (Photo from a PNP video posted on its Facebook page)
MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Oscar Albayalde on Thursday insisted that the police is not engaged in red-tagging students and teachers.
This is after an intelligence report leaked that police were profiling some members of ACT, a militant teachers’ group affiliated with the leftist Bagong Alyansang Makabayan.
“It’s not red-tagging. It’s not a policy of the PNP or the government to red-tag anybody or any organization for that matter,” Albayalde told reporters during the sidelines of a forum in Makati City.
Albayalde also said that he has “high regard” for teachers, noting that he ordered the immediate suspension of the supposed profiling of teachers.
Earlier, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) called on the PNP to immediately stop the practice, saying that it is in violation of basic human rights.
Albayalde has already expressed readiness to answer all accusations and file counter charges as necessary.
He also stressed that intelligence gathering is part of their mandate to maintain peace and order.
“Kung ‘di natin gagawin, how can we arrest people with warrants of arrest? Kung sabihin na bawal magconduct ng intelligence information. Eh ‘di hayaan na lang natin may magnakaw?” he said. /je