Privacy body warns PNP vs. ‘profiling’ of pantry organizers

MANILA – The National Privacy Commission (NPC) on Tuesday warned the Philippine National Police (PNP) and its Data Protection Office (DPO) against the alleged profiling of organizers of community pantries.

“We would like to emphasize that collecting personal data must be done fairly and lawfully with respect to the rights of a data subject, including the rights to be informed and object,” the NPC said in a statement.

It said the leadership of the PNP has “acted on unlawful profiling” in the past, noting the importance of protecting the privacy of citizens in the performance of their duty.

It asked the PNP’s DPO to ensure that the collection of personal information, if necessary, should be accomplished with “transparency, legitimate purpose, and proportionality.”

“We call on again the attention of the PNP-DPO to look into these reports and take appropriate measures to prevent any doings of its personnel on the ground that could potentially harm citizens and violate rights,” the NPC said.

It also encouraged the establishment of community pantries amid the health crisis created by the Covid-19 pandemic, noting that Filipinos “have the ability to come together and do extraordinary deeds” in times of adversity.

“We must continue these efforts to build trust within and across communities,” the NPC said.

Both the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the PNP denied reports of community pantry organizers being questioned and profiled by the police.

This came after several photos went viral on social media showing policemen questioning organizers of some community pantries in Metro Manila.