ACT Teachers files complaint vs PNP for electioneering

MANILA, Philippines — The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT Teachers) on Tuesday filed a complaint before the Commission on Elections against the Philippine National Police (PNP) for alleged electioneering.

ACT Teachers Reps. Antonio Tinio and France Castro and 2nd nominee Benjamin Valbuena filed the complaint against the PNP for allegedly participating in partisan political activities and using public funds, equipment and facilities for an election campaign.

These, ACT said, are election offenses under Article 261 (i) and (o) of the Omnibus Election Code.

“We strongly condemn the ongoing vilification and terrorist tagging of ACT Teachers, Makabayan progressive party-lists and senatoriable Neri Colmenares,” Tinio said.

“We urge the Commission on Elections to investigate and take immediate action to end the PNP’s blatant electioneering based on misinformation and lies,” he added.

According to Tinio, ACT Teachers has observed “a number” of Facebook pages and accounts of police stations branding both ACT Teachers and Makabayan party-lists, and Colmenares as “terrorists.”

The said Facebook pages also allege that ACT Teachers and Colmenares are “legal fronts” of the CPP-NPA.

“PNP units have been openly campaigning against ACT Teachers, other Makabayan Partylists and senatoriable Neri Colmenares by circulating online materials that are damaging, dangerous and outright lies that sabotage the legitimate campaign of the partylist for salary increase and for the welfare of teachers,” he added.

Castro, for his part, said that these online posts in social media “endanger the lives and safety of our officials, members, campaign personnel and the sector we represent.”

“By tagging us as terrorists, the military and the police paint us as valid targets for their counter-insurgency activities. ACT Teachers Partylist, the other Makabayan groups of progressive party-lists and senatoriable Neri Colmenares are not terrorist groups and individuals,” Castro said.

“We are organizations forwarding policies that promote the rights and welfare of our sectors,” Castro added.  /muf