(Unsplash)

Makabayan solon Gabriela Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas sees a possible "human rights issue" in connection with the Philippine National Police (PNP) directive to have visible tattoos removed from among its personnel. 

"I think merong issue rito ng human rights (I think there's a human rights issue here)," Brosas told House of Representatives reporters in a chance interview Wednesday, April 24. 

"Kasi nga yung kalayaan mong makapagpahayag, mas primary naman talaga yon kahit sa ating Konstitusyon. Sa ating bill of rights, malinaw naman kung ano yung mga kailangan. At hindi dapat yon sinasagkaan," explained the assistant minority leader. 

(It's because the freedom of expression is of utmost primacy in our Constitution. So in our bill of rights, it clearly says what is important. At it should not be violated.) 

"We can always question this," Brosas added of the new PNP policy. 

Asked if Makabayan will question the policy before the Supreme Court (SC), Brosas said they will study it. 

"We will study first kung ano yung naging panukala (what the proposal is). If there are groups and there are organizations that would like to ask for help, siguro yon yung puwede naming ma-consult (maybe we can consult them). 

Personally, Brosas says the PNP directive against visible tattoos is "too strict". 

"Napakahigpit naman nang sobra to the point na parang pagbabawalan ka dahil lang sa tattoo. Hindi maintindihan ng representative na ito kung bakit kailangang ganoong kahigpit yung usapin dahil ang usapin dito ay yung skills mo," she said. 

(That's too strict to the point that you can't join them just because you have a tatoo. This representation can't understand why it has to be that strict when the discussion should be about your skills.)