(FILE) PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar. Screengrab from Facebook / PNP livestream
MANILA, Philippines — Both the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) have been instructed to investigate the police’s alleged intrusion into a labor group’s office, the Philippine National Police (PNP) leadership said.
According to PNP Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, they are looking into complaints made by TUCP president and party-list Rep. Raymond Mendoza, who said that police officers entered their office in Diliman, Quezon City, without showing any search warrant.
Eleazar further said that police officers then took photos of the area, including its attendance sheet, while interrogating TUCP’s staffers — leading Mendoza to call the actions an intrusion and not a mere visit.
“I have tasked the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the Quezon City Police District to look into the allegation against our personnel. Kailangang matukoy ang mga personnel na nagtungo sa opisina ng TUCP at pagpapaliwanagin natin sila kung ano ba ang dahilan ng kanilang pagpunta doon,” Eleazar said.
(We should identify the personnel who went into the TUCP office and let them explain their reasons for visiting the premises.)
“We will determine if the protocols were followed by the police officers when they went to the TUCP compound. Kung mayroong hindi nasunod sa protocols ay hindi naman natin ito palalagpasin at agad naming aaksyunan,” he added.
“We will determine if the protocols were followed by the police officers when they went to the TUCP compound. If protocols were not observed, we would not let this pass and we would act on this.)
According to Eleazar, he thinks that the police officers went to the TUCP office on their initiative — or without being commanded by their superiors. Still, the PNP chief said that he would personally monitor the case.
“Malamang na sariling inisyatibo ito ng mga pulis na sangkot dahil walang anumang ibinababang kautusan ang PNP higher headquarters na magsagawa ng mga ganitong pagkilos,” Eleazar explained.
(More or less, this was a personal initiative of the officers involved because the PNP’s higher headquarters have not issued such orders to do these kinds of searches.)
“The PNP has taken note of the TUCP’s complaint and we will seriously look into this. We will take the necessary action against the concerned policemen once proven that they have erred in their conduct,” the Chief PNP assured.
Other labor groups have also complained of harassment from police officers, as the groups were being linked to leftist movements and even the armed communist revolution itself.
During the celebration of Labor Day in 2020, Kilusang Mayo Uno said that over 50 activists were arrested by the police back then using the COVID-19 quarantine restrictions as an excuse.
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