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'Profiling' ops not discriminatory: NCRPO

By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan

February 18, 2020, 6:00 pm

<p>NCRPO chief, Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas. <em>(File photo)</em></p>

NCRPO chief, Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas. (File photo)

MANILA -- The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Tuesday said it does not intend to discriminate anyone in its "profiling" operations.
 
Wala po kaming malice against the LGBTQI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersexuals). Kung mayroon man (na-offend) ay humihingi po kami ng pang-unawa at maybe as long as we don't violate some of them, hindi namin babaguhin muna ang operations (We don't have malice against the LGBTQI). If we have offended somebody, we ask for your understanding and maybe as long as we don't violate some of them, there will be no change in our operations)," NCRPO chief, Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas told reporters in a press briefing in Quezon City.
 
Sinas made the remark after Anne Pelos, a transgender woman, cried foul after she was invited by Makati police officers to their station.

Sinas said he will talk to Makati police chief, Col. Rogelio Simon, about the matter and ask the city's police officers to observe sensitivity in their operations.

He said the profiling was done because there has been an increasing number of human trafficking victims in the area.

Earlier reports said Pelos accused the two Makati police officers of inviting her to the station on account of her being a transgender.

A video showed that two cops were arguing with Pelos and her friends after she was invited "for profiling."

Simon, meanwhile, said the measure is part of their anti-criminality campaign due to the occurrence of several crime incidents in the area.

“We have an anti-crime campaign in the area and that is one of the strategies we thought of. However, we do not target LGBT members alone. It's because of rampant crimes involving foreign national where suspects are mostly prostitutes and ladyboys,” he said in a text message.

The police officers, Pat. Timmy Paez and Cpl. Juliet Atal, were relieved from their posts and will undergo retraining and gender sensitivity workshop.

A viral video of the incident showed that the two police officers failed to explain the reason behind the profiling.

Simon, however, apologized for the misunderstanding and said he will meet with the LGBTQI community in their area to explain the matter. (PNA)

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