STAY off the streets at night, the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) warned.
It is set to launch Oplan Tambay (Tangtangon Ang Maabusado, Badlongon sa Katilingban ug Apil niini ang mga Yawan-ong buhat).
CCPO Director Joel Doria said that they are conducting information drives around critical areas in the city about Oplan Tambay.
“We have come up with an operation plan. We will launch it a few days from now. We need to check the references, city ordinance o mga batas na pwede nating magamit (and laws that we can use),” Doria said.
Oplan Tambay targets loiterers by making use of existing laws and city ordinances, he said.
In the data provided by the CCPO, about 85 violators, both minors and person of legal age, were warned of the directive and were sent to their homes by police officers for loitering at night between June 13 and June 20.
Doria said the public should abide by the smoking ban, law on anti-drunkenness, illegal dispatching, curfew, anti-noise law and the law on vandalism.
“Ongoing ang tambay campaign. The duration will be from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. the following morning, daily. Once na-finalize na ang Oplan Tambay (is finalized), formal launching will follow,” he said.
Doria said that they are also checking if there is a law or local ordinance on men being shirtless in public.
Assurance
“Kung wala (If there’s none), there will be no arrest. Pure warning only and to advise those who are half-naked to dress up,” he said.
Oplan Tambay will be conducted in coordination with barangay officials, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development and Commission on Human Rights if they have personnel who can accompany police during operations, he said.
Only those who commit a violation or have warrants of arrest will be taken to the police station, he said. Minors who violate the curfew will be taken to the barangay hall to await pickup by their guardian, Doria added.
He assured that they will follow human-based policing, adding that they are prepared for any legal battle.
Some critics called the move anti-poor, but Doria said that it’s a measure to keep Cebu City safe.
“Biktima yung poor (The poor are the victims)0. To keep Cebu City safe, implement natin to,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mayor Tomas Osmeña supports the move to round up street loiterers.
He said he received several reports about these vagrants, particularly youths who are also rugby-users.
“The people have been complaining that they have been harassed or become victims of snatching,” he said.
The mayor said that his priority will always be victims of crimes.
Stern warning
“My policy is very simple. The ones who deserve human rights are the victims of criminals. That’s my number one priority. Criminal, that’s secondary. I really don’t care whether they have human rights or not,” he said.
Osmeña said the City will monitor the arrests, although the experience here is that reports of police abuse when arresting loiterers are minimal.
“If they arrest a minor, they will immediately call the parents to pick them up,” he said.
In Talisay City, police apprehended 150 persons, mostly minors, who were found loitering in Barangays Tabunok, Tangke, Lawaan, Dumlog, Pooc and Lagtang early dawn yesterday.
However, Supt. Marlu Conag, the city’s acting police chief, said they let them go with a “stern warning.”
Conag said the violators were told that if apprehended again, they will be fined for violating the city’s curfew ordinance.
Aside from fines, adult violators may have to stay awhile in the police station while minors will be turned over to the City Social Welfare Office for safekeeping.
Acting Gov. Agnes Magpale urged law enforcers to protect and properly handle children who are caught in their anti-loitering campaign. (RVC, JKV)