Policemen who allegedly “harassed and pushed” teachers despite having a rally permit are currently facing several complaints.
This is after the Alliance of Concerned Teachers on Wednesday, Sept. 14, filed complaints against P/ Lt Col Morgan Aguilar, station commander of Quezon City Police District Station 6, and his men who “harassed and pushed against a peaceful assembly of teachers” on Sept. 5. at the gates of the House of Representatives.
ACT filed complaints of irregularities in the performance of duty, gross misconduct, conduct unbecoming of a police officer, and incompetence versus Aguilar and “John Doe” police officers before the Quezon City Public Law Enforcement Bureau with their legal counsel lawyer Armando Teodoro Jr. of Pro-Labor Assistance Center.
“Walang kinikilalang karapatan o batas ang mga law enforcer na ito. Tahasan nilang nilalapastangan ang karapatan ng mga guro at mamamayan sa malayang pagpapahayag at mapayang pagkilos (These law enforcers do not recognize rights or laws. They blatantly disrespect the right of teachers and citizens to free expression and peaceful action),” said ACT Chairperson Vladimer Quetua.
Quetua alleged that police of QCPD Station 6 has “committed successive acts of violence” against them during actions in Congress in the past few days
ACT, he noted, has already processed a permit to prevent incidents such as this but the police “still did not recognize it.”
Quetua said that the police have to understand holding a protest is a “basic right” of the people and the people need to express their concerns, especially with the deliberation of the 2023 budget in Congress.
“Our fight for greater education budget is for the benefit of all, including the children of these police officers who are our students in public schools,” Quetua said. “Instead of exercising maximum tolerance and recognizing the permit issued to us, they chose to step out of the bounds of their authority,” he added.
Quetua also expressed disappointment that such incidents happen as the country observes National Teachers Month this September.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2022/09/05/ph-celebration-of-2022-national-teachers-month-starts-on-sept-5/
“Clearly, these police officers need to be educated on human rights and be held accountable for their actions,” Quetua added.