Kabataan party-list condemns crackdown on tambays

KABATAAN party-list condemned the illegal arrest of almost 29,000 individuals, including minors, as of July 2018, following the order of President Rodrigo Duterte to the Philippine National Police (PNP) to arrest tambays or loiterers.

"No change of name can mask the already discredited PNP operation plan for what it is and has done thus far in criminalizing poverty by its crackdown on tambay," Kabataan Representative Sarah Elago said.

"The move to go after ‘tambays’ on the mere suspicion that they are engaged in illegal activities sets a dangerous precedent to more human rights violations, and is akin to one of the tactics employed during Martial Law," she added.

The group also condemned the killing of Genesis "Tisoy" Argoncillo, the 22-year-old who was killed under the custody of the Quezon City police.

Argoncillo was arrested following the loitering ban order of Duterte for allegedly violating city ordinances.

"The brutal actions of the police and military forces only show that there is no law better than a dictator’s words," Elago said.

The Kabataan party-list urged the Filipino people to strongly condemn such "anti-poor attacks" and to rise against these "continuous fascist schemes."

Elago also slammed the Makati police over the strip search on alleged drug suspects inside the Makati police station.

"This is an outright violation of due process and rule of law, an unacceptable, and overkill exercise of police power," Elago said.

READ: Police explanation on viral strip search video 'unacceptable'

The cops involved in the strip search have been ordered relieved of their respective posts following the incident. (SunStar Philippines)

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