The Philippine National Police yesterday justified the profiling of Muslim youths in the National Capital Region after a police memorandum order mandating an updated data of Muslim students in Manila went viral in social media.
Police Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa, PNP chief, said consolidating all data of Muslim youths in Metro Manila will help in their future police-community affairs development programs.
“The PNP high command supports the initiative of the National Capital Region Police Office in reaching out to the Muslim youth sector in Metro Manila,” Gamboa said.
He said that by collecting the data of the Muslim youth mass base, the PNP is, in effect, facilitating better understanding of the uniqueness and complexities of the different belief systems in a multi-faith society.
Gamboa noted that all the data will be used for the PNP Salaam Police Centers.
Salaam Police Centers are tasked to undertake close monitoring, networking, and liaising activities with Muslim communities in addressing terrorism and lawless violence, and to ensure respect of cultural diversity and cooperation.
The Directorate for Police Community Relations supervises the Salaam Police Centers.
“Our goal is to facilitate dialogue with our Muslim brothers and sisters so that we can thresh out problems related to peace and order,” Gamboa said.
The issue stemmed from a memorandum order issued by the Manila Police District under the leadership of Police Brig. Gen. Bernabe Balba.
The order, dated Jan. 31, directed all police stations to submit an updated data of Muslim students in their areas of responsibility. It went viral this week.
An updated data includes the total number of Muslim students, the number of females to males, their academic level, and the names of their schools.
The Alliance of Concerned Teachers Philippines, slammed the PNP, saying the profiling of Muslim students for counter-terrorism efforts “reek of police ignorance and Islamophobia.”
Police Major Gen. Debold Sinas, NCRPO director, had earlier said that the profiling of Muslim students aims to establish good rapport with the community through intervention programs.
Gamboa expressed confidence on the programs of the NCRPO in Metro Manila and appealed to the public not to believe disinformation from critics. (Martin Sadongdong)
