Gamboa defends cops who confiscated placards of militants during mass

July 29, 2020

The chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday said cops did not misbehave when they confiscated placards inside the Quiapo Church while a mass was still going on.

In a TV interview, Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa said they only acted upon the request of church officials after some militant members pulled out some placards during a mass last Monday.

“We have pictures that they were displaying the placards while inside the church. We have pictures for that. Problem in social media is they are faster than us so that's why we reacted… but for us, we just don't do those things that's why I don't consider that as a misbehavior because we didn't do that not unless requested by the church authorities themselves,” Gamboa said.

“It is only upon the call of the church,” he said.

Gamboa said they were commended by the Archdiocese of Manila.

“As a matter of fact we were commended that doing so in maintaining peace and order in a religious activity… Now people should be able to separate politics and religion,” Gamboa said.

“The PNP just reacted on a report that was given to us so you it should be placed on the context that actually the PNP misbehaved because we just behaved in accordance with the request of the church,” he added.

Gamboa said those individuals whose placards were confiscated can file a case against them.

On Tuesday, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Major General Debold Sinas said church officials requested for their assistance as the action by some militant members distracted other churchgoers.

“Based on the report of Manila Police District, I would like to clarify that responding police officers received a report from church security officers that members of Akbayan Partylist pulled out a placard and publicly displayed it during the mass,” Sinas said.

A SONA  Mass for Peace and Justice was held at Quiapo Church for President Rodrigo Duterte’s 5th State of the Nation Address (SONA). Ella Dionisio/DMS