Solons file reso urging House to condemn, probe profiling

The Makabayan Bloc led by Kabataan party-list Representative Sarah Elago on Thursday filed a measure urging the House of Representatives to condemn and investigate the profiling of individuals based on age, appearance, political beliefs, religion, ethnicity, race, and sexual orientation.

This stemmed from the memorandum issued by the Manila Police District ordering the submission of an updated list of Muslim students in high school, colleges and universities, as well as the so-called "Oplan X-Men" of the Makati City Police profiling transgender women in the city.

In House Resolution 745, the lawmakers said the acts of profiling are "highly condemnable and discriminatory."

"This may also be a prelude to an intensified vilification and attack on the youth, the LGBTQIA+ and the Muslim community in general," the resolution read.

"This was the same pattern used against progressives and the opposition. We must oppose and resist this condemnable profiling," it added.

The Makabayan Bloc lawmakers also urged their fellow lawmakers to direct the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to issue an "equivocal" directive that prohibits the profiling and other similar practices violative of a person's right to privacy and safe spaces.

National Capital Region Police Office chief Police Major General Debold Sinas denied they were profiling students across Metro Manila, but then ordered the recall of the memorandum.

He said they are merely gathering statistics on the number of Muslim high school and college students in Metro Manila “in order to conduct interventions and programs in strengthening Salaam Police [Center].”

Elago expressed concern over the information about the students that could have already been submitted to the police.

"Hindi lang MPD ang dapat magbawi ng memorandum na 'yan, kundi dapat sa buong bansa, may malinaw na statement ang PNP na itigil na ang lahat ng tipo ng profiling at dapat nang itigil ang lahat ng porma ng diskriminasyon, ng bias, ng bigotry hindi lang sa loob ng mga eskwelahan kundi sa ating lipunan," Elago said in a press conference on Friday.

Meanwhile, Makati City police chief Police Colonel Rogelio Simon has apologized to the trans woman who cried foul after two policemen told her to come with them to the police station for profiling when they randomly spotted her at Makati Avenue.

He also relieved the the two policemen involved in the incident, and claimed that members of the LGBT community were not being singled out.

Sinas also claimed that there was no "malice" in the profiling of trans women in Makati City, and that the practice will continue. — BM, GMA News