By Ma. Teresa Montemayor/PNA
MANILA — The Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday said it has not received any request from the Philippine National Police (PNP), asking for an inventory of teachers who are members of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT).
In a statement, the DepEd confirmed that ACT representatives have communicated their concern to the department “over allegedly two endorsements by DepEd Schools Division Offices (SDO) of a supposed Memorandum from the PNP”.
“It is confirmed though that a letter addressed to school heads was issued by one SDO through an Acting Division Superintendent, forwarding a purported Memorandum from a PNP unit. In consultation with the concerned Regional Office, the recall of this forwarding letter has been directed,” the statement read.
The DepEd added there was no similar forwarding letter, which has been issued by any other DepEd local unit based on their initial investigation.
“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 DepEd said.
Earlier, Malacañang said ACT teacher-members have nothing to fear about being profiled if they are not doing anything illegal.
“If you’re not doing anything, why should you be afraid? If you’re not doing anything, wala namang mangyayari eh (nothing will happen),” Presidential Spokesperson Salvado Panelo said in a Palace briefing.
Panelo also echoed the PNP’s remark, noting that the agency has already denied the profiling of teachers but at the same time stressed that ACT has long been identified with the communist movement.
He added that President Rodrigo R. Duterte has always considered the welfare of teachers since his late mother was a teacher herself.
