ALMOST 3,000 street loafers or “tambays” who were violating city ordinances were arrested in the entire Metro Manila in the past five days, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Oscar Albayalde said Monday, June 18.
Albayalde said that from June 13 to 18, a total of 2,981 individuals were arrested amid the intensified campaign against "tambays" as ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte.
Of the total number, 944 were minors who violated the curfew, 653 were caught drinking in public, 651 for loitering without upper clothing or half naked, 456 for smoking in public places, 138 for traffic violations while 139 others were arrested for various violations including littering, videoke hours and urinating in public.
Earlier, Duterte ordered the law enforcers to intensify its anti-criminality operations particularly by ordering street loiterers especially at night to go home and if they do not follow, he will be the one to deal with them.
However, Albayalde said police operations against street loiterers particularly those violating city ordinances is no longer new as they have been implementing it prior to Duterte’s reiteration.
He clarified that a person who is standing by on the streets doing nothing and not violating any of the city ordinances will not be arrested.
“Kasi madalas dyan lalo na ‘yung ma naka-istambay umiinom sa kalsada, kapag may dumaan kinukursonada na nagiging sanhi ng away. Kung minsan naman binabastos ‘yung mga merong bababe na dumadaan so yun ang iniiwasan natin. This is all for the safety of everybody,” he said.
“If you will notice wala ngang nahuli because of vagrancy. Ang hinuli dito because of smoking in public, illegal vendors, half naked in public, drinking in public places or streets, urinating in
public place, illegal barker, littering, breach of peace, obstruction at saka riding in tandem pa and traffic code violations and concealment of deadly weapons. Walang vagrancy dito (because it is no longer a crime),” he added.
Amid several criticisms against the supposed “anti-tambay” operations due to possible violation of human rights, Albayalde said the PNP will be drafting guidelines in the conduct of such operations. (SunStar Philippines)