ACTIVISTS in Cagayan de Oro City are threatening to launch a protest against the Duterte administration's “anti-tambay” drive, which for them is another anti-people policy of the government.
The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Northern Mindanao (Bayan-NMR), an umbrella organization of progressive groups in the region, said the group is strongly protesting the arrest of “tambays” (loiterers) on the streets.
Bayan-NMR spokesperson Wildon Barros said the group has initially discussed with some leaders of youth, urban poor, labor and other groups for the mass demonstration.
"Naa nay initial nga panaghisgot sa mga grupo sa planong mga protesta kay supak gyud mi aning pag-aresto sa mga tambay," Barros said.
Barros said tambays exist because of the government's inaction to provide jobs for the unemployed and address the plight of the out-of-school youth across the country.
He said it would be better if authorities would round up tambays in the alleys and provide them jobs rather than arresting them and imposed penalties.
"Ang tambay epekto sa kawalay trabaho sa atrasadong nasud sama sa Pilipinas. Ok lang og dakpon ila unya tagaan og trabaho ang nakapait kay dakpon,prisohon unya pabayron pag penalty," Barros said.
"Kay wala may mahatag ang gobyerno nga trabaho maong naay tambay unya kung naay ginagmay nga maamot-amot maong mag-inom dayon sa dalan," he added.
Barros said the group would continue to keep watch on how the police would carry out the anti-tambay campaign to ensure that human rights will remain protected.
He said they would welcome reports or complaints should there be human rights violations, irregularities or if law enforcers abuse their authority.
"Padayon mi nga mag-observe ug modawat og mga reports kung dunay katungod nga masupak," Barros said.