The Manila Police District yesterday recalled the memorandum that basically paves way for the profiling of all Muslim students in Metro Manila following a directive from the National Capital Region Police Office last Friday.
The MPD Public Information Office said that the community affairs offices of all Manila police stations and the development division of the MPD have been tasked by district director Police Brig. Gen. Bernabe Balba to implement the order.
“We are also coordinating with MPD Salaam Police to conduct a meeting with the Muslim student leaders in Manila to accomplish the projects and activities for the Muslim community,” it added.
NCRPO director Police Major Gen. Debold Sinas issued an order Friday directing Balba to recall their memorandum seeking an updated list of Muslim students in high school, colleges, and universities in Manila.
“I have directed the District Director of Manila Police District through Brig. Gen. Bernabe Balba to recall the memorandum regarding the updated list of Muslim students in high school, colleges, and universities in Manila,” said Sinas.
The Alliance of Concerned Teachers slammed the move, which, it said, reeks of police ignorance and Islamophobia.
“It is deplorable that the Philippine National Police would want to target these young Muslim students to supposedly counter violent extremism, which is short of saying that Muslims are more likely to become extremists or terrorists,” ACT national chairperson Jocelyn Martinez said.
“As an education institution, it is our duty to protect our students from such dangerous ignorance and discriminatory practices and more importantly, to counter these by ensuring that schools remain safe spaces where diversity of beliefs and thoughts is valued and respected, and critical thinking is honed without threats of any kind,” she added.
The NCRPO refuted ACT’s claim, saying it “does not intend to cause harm and anxiety to our Muslim brothers and sisters.” It also stressed that the memorandum is not about profiling but only the “statistics of Muslim students.”
“The NCRPO does not intend to cause harm and anxiety to our Muslim brothers and sisters,” said Sinas. “Let me reiterate that we uphold the good rapport we have established with our Muslim brothers and sisters. The Team-NCRPO commits to continue to strengthen the partnership between the police and Muslim communities,” he added.
Instead of pursuing the memorandum, Sinas said he now seeks to conduct meetings and dialogues with Muslim youth leaders. (Joseph Pedrajas and Aaron Recuenco)