PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Friday, June 22, said he did not order the Philippine National Police (PNP) to arrest "tambays" or loiterers.
In a speech delivered in Davao City, Duterte clarified that his directive was just to "accost" individuals who are loitering, especially at night.
The President made the clarification two days after he told the police to continue the anti-tambay campaign and do as he tells them in response to criticisms of the campaign.
Read: Duterte ignores critics, pushes anti-tambay drive
Duterte defended his anti-tambay campaign, saying he is merely wielding his power of "parens patriae," a power that is meant to be used to protect the people.
"Iyang tambay, I never said arrest them. Paka-gago naman nitong mga (kritiko ko). Why don't you at least listen o i-rewind mo kung ano 'yung sinabi ko? Ang sinabi ko, 'You go home. Do not congregate,'" Duterte said.
(On loiterers, I never said arrest them. [My critics] are stupid. Why don't you at least listen or rewind what I had said? What I said was, "You go home. Do not congregate.")
"Of course, I can accost you. Sabihin mo, "What are you doing here?" If you are a minor, under the power of parens patriae, you are the father of the nation, you can always give an advice for people gaya ng minors," he added.
(Of course, I can accost you. I can say, 'What are you doing here?' If you are a minor, under the power of parens patriae, you are the father of the nation, you can always give an advice for people like minors.)
It was on June 13 when the President gave his first directive to go after loiterers as they are "potential trouble for the public."
To recall, Duterte merely said in a June 13 speech in Manila: "My directive is ‘pag mag-istambay-istambay diyan sa [kalye], sabihin niyo, 'Umuwi kayo. Kay ‘pag hindi kayo umuwi, ihatid ko kayo doon sa opisina ni ano --- Pasig.' Ako na ang bahala."
(My directive is if there are loiterers along the streets, tell them, "Go home. If you do not go home, I will accompany you to the office [of Duterte] in Pasig." Let me do my job afterwards.)
Since he made the order, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has arrested 7,291 street loiterers in Metro Manila alone from June 13 to 20.
Duterte's anti-loitering campaign has drawn flak, but the President merely brushed aside criticisms, as he told the PNP on Wednesday, June 20, to continue the implementation of the anti-loitering drive.
In his latest speech, Duterte dared his critics to challenge his policy against loitering before the Supreme Court.
"Kaya sinabi ko, if you are unruly, talagang sabihin ko, uwi ka, kung hindi arestado ka. That is a police power of the state. Let them contest sa Supreme Court," he said.
(That's why I said, if you are unruly, I would really say, go home, or else, you'll get arrested. That is a police power of the state. Let them contest [that before the] Supreme Court [if they do not want my policy].)
"Sabihin ko, bawalan ninyo ako. Sige, larga kayong lahat, lahat ng gustong mamasyal. Lahat ng hold-uppers, sige lumabas kayo. Bigyan ko kayo until the end of the year, do it. Tignan natin," Duterte added.
(So I would say, prohibit me from doing that. Fine, let them loiter. These who want to loiter, those hold-upper, go ahead, do what you want. I will give you until the end of the year. Do it. Let's see what will happen.)
On Thursday, June 21, Malacañang said Duterte's advocacy against loiterers is aimed at deterring crimes. (SunStar Philippines)