DepEd recalls schools division letter reiterating PNP memo on ‘profiling’ of ACT teachers

The Department of Education (DepEd) has recalled the letter issued by one of its schools division office reiterating a purported memorandum from the Philippine National Police (PNP) on the "profiling" of teachers who are members of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT).

The DepEd said in a statement that it received communication from a representative of ACT Teachers raising concern over the matter.

"Based on available information, it is noted that the DepEd Central Office has not received any such request from the PNP," DepEd said.

"It is confirmed though that a letter addressed to school heads was issued by one SDO (schools division office) through an Acting Division Superintendent, forwarding a purported Memorandum from a PNP unit," it added.

The Education department said that based on its initial investigation, no other DepEd local unit has released a similar notice.

"Should any inter-agency request for personal information of individuals be received by DepEd, such request shall be evaluated based on existing laws and regulations, including the Data Privacy Act," the department underscored.

ACT Teachers previously claimed that police officers were conducting profiling of their members by requesting a list from school officials.

PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde on Monday ordered the relief of three intelligence officers who allegedly leaked information on the supposed profiling of members of ACT.

"Kung ganong intel officer, hindi dapat nagli-leak 'yung trabaho mo, if really may utos na ganon. You have to do your job discreetly," he said.

"I will look into this, but as far as I'm concerned wala akong pinirmahang ganyan," he added.

Albayalde also clarified that such move was only part of the intelligence monitoring system and should not alarm the organization.

"Kaya siguro 'yan kinukuha ng intelligence officers, they're profiling kung saan talaga sila affiliated. There are pronouncements coming from the CPP (Communist Party of the Philippines) na ito 'yung mga front organizations nila," he said.

The Department of Interior and Local Government(DILG), in a separate statement, backed the PNP chief's pronouncements and said that "there is no crackdown on ACT members in any school in the country."

"It is the responsibility of the PNP to monitor any and all groups and organizations critical of the government especially those linked to militant organizations whose objective is to overthrow the duly-elected government," DILG spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año was open to having a dialogue with the DepEd officials regarding the matter, he said.

"Through this meeting with our counterparts with DepEd, we hope to relay to them that what the PNP is undergoing is not only legal but also necessary," Malaya said.

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has expressed concern over the issue, pointing out the supposed violation of the police against the ACT members' rights to privacy and association.