MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday said it would continue conducting intelligence operations on members of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT).
PNP spokesperson Senior Supt. Bernard Banac said the operations would continue after the Court of Appeals (CA) on Thursday junked the petition against the profiling of ACT members.
Public and private teachers in Central Luzon demand higher pay and seek a stop to profiling by the police. The Alliance of Concerned Teachers gathered them at a park in front of the Holy Rosary Church in Angeles City, Pampanga on Tuesday. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
READ: CA dismisses plea to stop cops from profiling ACT members
READ: PNP hails CA ruling to junk ACT petition vs profiling
Banac, however, said the operation is not only limited to teachers affiliated with ACT, but may also be applied to perceived enemies of the State.
“Tuloy-tuloy naman iyan ever since. Iyan naman ang function ng PNP, to collect information from all threat groups, criminal groups, criminal syndicates, drug syndicates, Abu Sayyaf…” Banac told reporters.
Hindi lamang sa kanila, but [to] all others. Hindi naman specifically na targeted sila,” he said.
(They are not being specifically targeted.)
PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde earlier said Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison tagged ACT as one of its legal fronts.
The group has since denied being involved in the communist movement.
READ: Hands off our teachers, ACT tells PNP
READ: DepEd protects ACT members from PNP profiling
The PNP also rejected the term “profiling,” and stressed that they are into information gathering.
“Walang profiling. Collection of information ang meron tayo,” said Banac.
(There is no profiling. We only collect information).” / gsg