The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) in Davao Region clarified that there is no profiling or surveillance of teachers.
ACT Davao Region vice president Wilfredo Lacatan said on Friday afternoon that they had received reports that some members are already filing for dismembership amidst reports that a supposed memorandum coming from the Philippine National Police (PNP) is requiring the partylist to submit its list of members for intelligence purposes.
“Do not be afraid. We are a union, wherein our function is for the welfare of our teachers,” Lacatan said in a press conference.
He clarified that the police officials in the area are “very friendly” and had been in close coordination.
“Our teachers have nothing to worry because this is the place of our president (Rodrigo Duterte). Also our mayor (Sara Duterte-Carpio) had been supportive to our teachers ever since,” Lacatan said.
In Metro Manila, ACT has condemned the act of PNP, saying it violates the privacy of the teachers. The PNP denied such allegations.
ACT is the largest organization of teachers in the country with 180,000 members in the country. It has suborganizations–ACT Private Schools, ACT, State Universities and Colleges and ACT Education Students.
Lacatan said that they are the only accredited teacher’s union by the Civil Service Commission (CSC), Department of Education (DepEd), and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
The union vice president also quashed allegations that they are affiliated with any terrorist groups.
“Do you think that teachers under a terrorist group would have spouses who are police, soldier or even a government employee and official? That is a wrong notion,” Lacatan said.
ACT Davao region assistant treasurer Marydel Enanoria said that the supposed move of the PNP would violate the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers.
“Although the PNP region XI has not issued any memorandum to DepEd, that is why we cannot say that there is an existing profiling here,” Enanoria said.
