Palace says surveillance on teachers not a government policy

Malacanang denied Monday that it was a policy of the government to conduct a surveillance on teachers unless they are involved in illegal activities.

“Definitely ‘yung policy is not to surveil teachers, mahal ni Presidente (Rodrigo Duterte) ang mga teachers, ‘yan ang policy. Pero kung you’re doing something illegal or irregular, trabaho ng   pulis na i-monitor ka kung ano ang ginagawa mo,” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said during the briefing.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) earlier said police officers have been approaching officials of local schools and asking for a list of ACT members in their schools.

Panelo said maybe the teachers being monitored by police are facing complaints or identified with the communists.

“Baka yung pino-profile o minomonitor, ‘yung nakikita ng PNP na maling ginagawa nila. Kasi tandaan nyo yung ACT is a legal organization na identified sa kaliwa.  Sinabi na ng PNP at ni Presidente na merong legal fronts pero actually kasama sila sa kaliwa,” he said.

"Kung meron mang reason to surveil, halimbawa kung itong isang teacher na ito o dalawang teacher na ito nakitang nakikipag-ugnayan sa mga identified na NPA o pinaghihinalaang NPA. Kung ikaw ba pulis hindi mo ba imomonitor 'yung galaw nila?" he added.

He said those not doing anything irregular have nothing to worry.

“Trabaho kasi ng PNP na magmonitor. If you are not  doing anything why should you be afraid.  If you are not doing anything wala namang mangyayari,” he said. —LDF, GMA News