By Kris Crismundo/PNA
MANILA — The National Privacy Commission (NPC) advised the Philippine National Police (PNP) to respect the individual’s right to privacy following reports that it has been spying on members of the left-leaning Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT).
In a text message to reporters, Privacy Commissioner Raymund Liboro said the collection and processing of data should have legitimate purpose and must still uphold a person’s right to privacy.
PNP chief, Director General Oscar Albayalde, virtually confirmed the order to profile teachers aligned with ACT saying it was made public because of a “leaked” intelligence memorandum.
“The Data Privacy Act recognizes the importance of public order and safety, and that processing of personal information is important for law enforcement purposes. This, however, is not without limits,” Liboro said.
“There has to be legitimate purpose, and the processing of personal data, especially those of sensitive nature, should only be to the extent necessary for the purpose. This means collection should always be consistent with full respect of human rights and the Constitution, particularly the right to information privacy,” he added.
He said the NPC will seek clarification on these reports from the PNP’s Data Protection Unit.
