PNP didn’t order to profile counsel of suspected rebel, says spokesperson

PNP Headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City. (Photo from the PNP Facebook page)

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Thursday that it did not order the profiling of the counsel of an alleged communist rebel and is currently investigating the memorandum purportedly issued by the Surigao del Sur Police Provincial Office (PPO).

Earlier Thursday, 16 lawyers denounced an alleged memorandum from the Surigao del Sur Police Provincial Office (PPO) ordering the Lianga Municipal Police Station to do a background check on a lawyer reportedly representing in court a suspected rebel.

In response, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said the provincial police director of Surigao del Sur PPO Col. Dennis A. Siruno, whose signature is present in the memorandum, denied issuing the order.

“As per PD, wala po siya ini-issue na ganyan memo, we will investigate this matter,” Fajardo told INQUIRER.net.

(As per PD, he did not issue this memo, we will investigate this matter.)

In an earlier statement, the lawyers said that the purported memorandum is “a gross display of ignorance and blatant disrespect of the law” and “an undue interference and grave assault on the independence and role of lawyers in our justice system.”

They also urged the Department of the Interior and Local Government to investigate the Surigao del Sur PPO memorandum, as they encouraged the Supreme Court “to take a more aggressive stance” in protecting lawyers.

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