The right to privacy is a fundamental human right. A number of human rights documents, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the 1987 Constitution, and the Data Privacy Act among others, establish the nature of this freedom. The Commission on Human Rights lauds the National Privacy Commission (NPC) for stressing this view, in light of the reported profiling of members of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers. It is important to appreciate how privacy is essential in preserving human dignity, particularly against unlawful interferences that may result to abuses and violence. Pursuing actions in the interest of public order and safety is essential but, as NPC stresses, it is not without limits.

Laws are in place to find a balance between these interests and should not be used as a veil to further injustice. In the end, the Philippine National Police exists to serve and protect the rights of every Filipino, and it is the primary obligation of the entire government to respect, protect, and fulfil the rights of all persons in the country. ###