MANILA, Philippines — The Manila Police District (MPD) on Wednesday apologized to the Muslim community over the issuance of a memorandum seeking to compile a list of Muslim students in high schools, colleges, and universities in Metro Manila.
During an organizational meeting of the House special committee on peace, reconciliation, and unity, MPD District Director Brig. Gen. Bernabe Balba admitted that there was a “flaw in the communication” in the release of the said memorandum which drew flak from the public—including several House lawmakers.
“We, at the Manila Police District, deeply regret this lapse in communication and we have resort to the more careful and more diligent in textualizing our message—whether it be internal or external—to avoid the same gap in the future,” Balba said.
The memorandum earned the ire of groups and lawmakers.
Deputy Speaker and Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman and Anak Mindanao Rep. Amihilda Sangcopan condemned the directive and questioned the motive behind it.
Hataman said that typecasting Muslims as possible terrorists and listing down all their names for a possible watchlist “is one of the greatest failures of police intelligence in our history.”
“This is the flaw in our communication that has stirred an alarm and concern among our Muslim brothers and sisters. For this reason, we express our deepest apology to them for causing them any apprehension and with this communication flaw,” Balba said.
“We truly regret that this has happened and this has never been our intention. The MPD is committed to upholding the constitutional rights and welfare and to provide our Muslim communities in Manila with the police protection and security they need against all forms of threats,” he added.
Cultural insensitivity?
Balba explained that the National Capital Region Police Office issued a memorandum to all district directors cascading a request from the Salaam Police Center (SPC) for statistical information on Muslim students enrolled in various high schools, colleges, in Metro Manila.
The SPC was established in 2008 and is tasked to “undertake close monitoring, networking and liaising activities with Muslim communities in addressing terrorism and lawless violence in their respective areas to ensure respect of cultural diversity and cooperation.”
In compliance with the memorandum, the MPD cascaded the request through a separate memorandum which simply reflected “the same language and intent” as the NCRPO memorandum.
“The purpose of the said request was for the Center to develop the necessary planning and preparations for conducting a series of seminars and information campaign for this segment of the student population about the PNP’s initiatives aimed at promoting cultural sensitivity as well as enhancing the safety and security of our students on campuses across the metropolis,” Balba explained.
According to Balba, the SPC wanted to collect the following information — the name of the school, the school’s address and location, name of principal/president/chancellor with contact number, the total number of Muslim students, gender, and grade/year level.
“This information is needed for the Salaam Police Center to make the necessary planning and preparations for the seminars and information dissemination activities to be conducted on campuses,” Balba said.
The MPD chief added that the said memorandum did not ask for the identities of the Muslim students.
“The Subject in the memorandum failed to capture the righteous intent of the document, which is to merely collect the contact details of the educational institutions within the district’s jurisdiction and the number and the distribution of Muslim students who are currently enrolled in these schools,” Balba said.
Balba said he has recalled the memorandum following the orders of Police Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas, chief of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).