Deputy Speaker and Manila 6th District Rep. Benny Abante Jr. has joined calls to relieve Philippine National Police (PNP) officials involved in the violent raid conducted at a makeshift Lumad school at the Talamban campus of the University of San Carlos in Cebu City, and urged the PNP on Thursday to respect universities and schools as “safe spaces” meant to nurture the youth.
“Excessive violence has no place in police operations involving children, and police operations have no place in universities and other centers of learning for our youth,” said the lawmaker, one of the solons who interpellated Deputy Speaker and 1-PACMAN Party-list Rep. Michael Romero following the latter’s speech decrying the said raid.
“The PNP should hold those responsible for this incident accountable, as well as revisit their protocols with regard to such operations.”
According to Abante, “incidents like these impart painful and traumatic lessons to all those involved, particularly impressionable children.”
“This representation believes that the PNP exists to serve and protect us, to protect our kababayan; but incidents like these can shake the faith of our people in law enforcement––and that would be regrettable,” lamented Abante.
The solon urged PNP leadership to conduct an internal inquiry and sanction those involved in the planning and the execution of the operation that resulted in the PNP taking custody of 25 individuals, 15 of whom are minors.
“Incidents like these impart painful and traumatic lessons to all those involved, particularly impressionable children.”
“The PNP should hold those responsible for this incident accountable, as well as revisit their protocols with regard to such operations. Moving forward, the objective should be to avoid a similar incidents in the future.”