The Chief of the Philippine National Police, Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, on Wednesday apologized for a public service poster in Sorosogon that identified teachers as possible rapists. The tarpaulins have been taken down, he said.
The Teachers' Dignity Coalition shared a photo of the tarp on their Facebook page. It was marked as from the Sorsogon City Police and the Sorsogon City Advisory Council. The group showed a photo of the contested tarpaulin which tried to explain what rape is, how it happens, and who the potential rapists are.
"Sa dami ba naman ng mga propesyon o linya ng hanapbuhay ay bakit singled-out ang teacher bilang potential rapist? Ano naman din kaya ang mararamdaman ng mga kapatid nating pulis kung sila halimbawa ay tinukoy sa isang module ng DepEd bilang example ng masasamang tao? Masakit din 'di ba?" said Benjo Basas, the national chairperson of TDC.
Eleazar said he recognized the intention of the information drive against sexual abuse, however it is "discriminatory and insulting" to teachers who were the only professionals mentioned in the list.
“Sa aking panig, ako po ay personal na humihingi ng paumanhin sa ating mga guro at makakaasa kayo na itatama namin ang pagkakamaling ito. Magsilbing aral sana ang pangyayaring ito sa ating mga kapulisan na pag-isipang mabuti at maging sensitibo sa lahat ng programa na kanilang gagawin,” he said in a statement.
The posted tagged these people as possible rapists:
- strangers
- fathers
- uncles
- siblings and cousins
- friends
- trusted individuals
- teachers
The Sorsogon police also apologized and will face an investigation, Eleazar said.
"Ang mga guro ay matagal na naming kaagapay sa aming peace and order advocacies and I sincerely hope that this lapse in judgment on the part of some of our personnel will not serve as a setback in our long-standing partnership towards a peaceful community and responsible citizenship," the PNP chief said.
