Año, Albayalde charged over profiling of teachers

MANILA, Philippines — Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde and 20 other police officials were charged before the Office of the Ombudsman yesterday over the alleged profiling and surveillance of members of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT).

“If state forces thought they can get away with their illegal operations against our members, they are mistaken. They have been sowing fear and terror among our ranks, and it is time that they be held accountable,” ACT national chairperson Joselyn Martinez said.

Aside from Año and Albayalde, also named respondents were PNP Directorate for Intelligence head Gregorio Pimentel, National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Guillermo Eleazar, Police Regional Office 1 Director Romulo Sapitula, PRO Cordillera Director Rolando Nana, PRO 3 Director Amador Corpus, PRO4-A Director Edward Carranza, PRO4-B Emmanuel Luis Licup, PRO5 Director Arnel Escobal, PRO6 Director John Bulalacao, PRO10 Director Timoteo Pacleb, PRO12 Director Eliseo Rasco and PRO13 Director Noli Romana.

Also included in the complaint were Zambales Provincial Police intelligence branch officer-in-charge Pancho Doble, Manila Police District intelligence branch chief Rexson Layug, Muntinlupa City police chief of the intelligence section Peter Aquino, Baguio City Police Office Station 2 commander Arnold Lising, Angono Municipal police station acting chief Glenn Magsino, Cagayan de Oro City police chief of intelligence section Marvin Bolanio, Antipolo acting chief of police Villaflor Bannawagan and Rizal Police Provincial Office intelligence branch chief Noel Campos.

They were charged with electioneering and partisan politics prohibited under the Omnibus Election Code and for violations of Republic Act 10173 or the Data Privacy Act, RA 4670 or the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers as well as right to associations, assembly and freedom of expression guaranteed under the 1987 Constitution. – With Emmanuel Tupas, Mayen Jaymalin