By Katrina Gracia Consebido
The Philippine National Police (PNP) apologized on Tuesday, Oct. 11, to Senator Robin Padilla and to the Muslim community over the use of the term “Muslim” to refer to the hostage takers of former Senator Leila De Lima.
“The entire PNP organization would like to apologize to the good Senator Robin Padilla and the entire Muslim community for the inconvenience brought by the interpretation for using the term ‘Muslim’ to refer to someone committing a crime,” the PNP said in a statement.
“This was said without any malice to malign the reputation of our Muslim brothers and sisters,” it added.
The PNP vowed to educate the whole organization to be “more discerning in addressing all sectors in the society with prudency.”
“Again, we mean no disrespect and we have always considered the Muslim community as our partner in community-building,” it stated.
The PNP assured that the organization will “always uphold the rule of law in all its action and will always respect the person’s rights regardless of religion, culture and origin.”
Padilla has accepted PNP’s apology and expressed his full support to the PNP.
“Sa kabilang dako, aking tinitiyak ang buong suporta para sa ating bayaning pulis sa maayos na pagtupad ng kanilang tungkulin na tayo’y paglingkuran at ipagtanggol,” he said. -ag
