A group strongly condemned the “unfair and irresponsible” tagging of a teacher as a potential rapist by the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Sorsogon City.

The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC)-Bicol, in a statement issued July 6, urged the PNP-Sorsogon to pull out the materials disseminated to the public indicating that a teacher is among those individuals that may commit rape.

“We condemn the actions of the Sorsogon City Police and the Sorsogon Advisory Council in using teachers as an example as potential rapists,” said TDC-Bicol President Romel Lleva in Bicolano. “We teachers are entitled with high respect and we uphold our dignity,” Lleva added.

In a poster released by the PNP and SAC entitled “Oplan Kontra-Lupig,” among the potential offenders may include strangers, family members and other relatives (father, uncle, sibling, cousin), friends, and trusted individuals.

However, TDC called out the the authorities why was the teacher - among other professionals - was used as among the possible culprits in rape and other crimes.

Singled-out?

TDC said that the reference of a teacher as a potential rapist is quite “disheartening since the teaching profession’s primary goal is to teach and care for children.” The stand of TDC-Bicol was strongly supported by TDC National Chairperson Benjo Basas.

“Sa dami ba naman ng mga propesyon o linya ng hanap-bubay ay bakit singled-out ang teacher bilang potential rapist (Among all professions or line of work, why were teachers singled-out as a potential rapist?),” Basas asked.

Basas pointed out what would police officers feel if they were to be used as an example of a bad person or as a criminal in the modules produced by the Department of Education (DepEd) to be used by students.

“Masakit din di ba? Kaya dapat maingat tayo sa mga pahayag lalo na sa publiko (It will hurt too, right? That's why we should be careful of statements especially in public),” Basas reminded.

Meanwhile, TDC clarified that it supports this campaign of PNP against violence against children and women. The group also expressed willingness to help in the said campaign.

However, TDC asked that the teaching - or any other profession for that matter - will not be put in bad light.

“Bilang mga guro, layunin din namin na maturuan ang mga mamamayan ng tamang impormasyon at mabigyan sila ng proteksiyon at handa kaming tumulong sa ganitong layunin ng PNP, pero pakiusap lang na huwag naman yurakan ang aming propesyon (As teachers, we also aim to teach the citizens the right information and give them protection and we are ready to help with this PNP's objective, but please don't step on our profession),” Lleva said.

The TDC-Bicol said that it will formally communicate with the PNP Sorsogon City and with PNP Chief Guillermo Eleazar to clarify the matter and so it will not be replicated in other places.

“Sa ngayon, hinihiling namin sa PNP Sorsogon City na i-pull out ang lahat ng poster o tarpaulin na ito sa lahat ng dako ng Sorsogon at maging sa social media (For now, we ask PNP Sorsogon City to pull out all these posters or tarpaulin everywhere in Sorsogon and be on social media),” Lleva's said.