Bangsamoro parliament condemns profiling of Muslim students by Manila police

DAVAO CITY—-The legislative body of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has condemned Manila police for profiling Muslim students as potential violent extremists.

The Bangsamoro parliament passed Resolution No. 201, without any objection, condemning what Bangsamoro leaders said was prejudice against Muslims.

The profiling controversy was contained in a police memo that was recently leaked.

The memo was reportedly issued last Jan. 31 by the District Community Affairs and Development Division of the Manila Police District upon instruction of Brig. Gen. Bernabe Balba.

The one-page memo directed police units in Manila to submit an updated list of Muslim high school, college and university students.

The profiling was supposedly in compliance with “strengthening of peace-building and counter violent extremism” programs of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the memo read.

“In the interest of upholding human rights, the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) condemns the prejudicial treatment of Muslim youth by the Manila Police District of the Philippine National Police,” the Bangsamoro parliament said in the resolution.

The resolution was authored by parliament members Amir Mawallil, Anna Tarhata Basman, Lanang Ali Jr, and Marjanie Macasalong.

The BTA said the profiling campaign of the PNP “targets young Muslims who enjoy the intended safe spaces provided by these educational institutions.”

Edited by TSB

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