Anyone can refuse invitation by cops if not accused of a crime: Gamboa

February 17, 2020

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa on Monday said anyone can refuse an invitation by police to go their station if they are not accused of any crime.

"When you are invited to a police station and a specific crime is being thrown to you personally, that's custodial investigation. The police have all the right to do that, however, after a period of so many hours, an appropriate case must be filed," Gamboa said at a press briefing.

"When a person is invited to a police station, you can go or you cannot go, you have the right to refuse… if there is a certain class of society who are invited to the police station, well voluntarily they can go but they can also refuse,” he added.

This is in response to the statement of Commission on Human Rights (CHR) last Saturday that Makati City police officers were captured on video inviting a random transgender woman to the police station.

The operation was dubbed as “Oplan X-Men” which the CHR will investigate.

“When pressed for a reason for the invitation, the unidentified police officer admits carrying out a blanket instruction to “profile” all transgender women but fails to explain the rationale,” CHR said.

Gamboa assured the public they would look into the alleged operation of the Makati Police.

"We will find out the mechanics. Maybe the instruction came from the LGU (local government unit). There is a reason for that, they will not just do it without reason,” he said.  Ella Dionisio/DMS