‘Profiling’ memorandum on Muslim students recalled
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Sat, 22 Feb 2020 08:00:56 +0000
MGen. Debold Sinas, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director, ordered the recall of a memorandum that sought the identification of Muslim students in Manila schools.
“I have directed the District Director of Manila Police Distict (MPD) [Police Brig. Gen.] Bernabe Mendoza Balba to recall the memorandum regarding the updated list of Muslim Students in High School, Colleges and Universities in Manila City,” Police Sinas said in a statement late Friday.
Sinas maintained, however, that the intention of the memorandum was not for profiling Muslim students but only to gather youth statistics, as required by the Salaam Police Center of the Philippine National Police’s Directorate for Police Community Relations (PNP-DPCR).
“The NCRPO does not intend to cause harm and anxiety to our Muslim brothers and sisters,” Sinas said.
Sinas instead directed the MPD’s Salaam Police to meeting with Muslim student leaders in Manila to “accomplish the projects and activities for the Muslim community.”
“Let me reiterate that we uphold the good rapport we have established with our Muslim brothers and sisters,” he said.
The memorandum drew negative reactions around social media.
PNP Chief Archie Gamboa clarified that the memorandum was meant to prevent extremism. DEMPSEY REYES