After Tisoy’s death, Kiko calls for suspension of crackdown vs tambays
Senator Kiko Pangilinan joined calls for the suspension of the crackdown against loiterers or “tambays” after the “senseless death” of a 22-year-old inmate in Novaliches, Quezon City.
“That is a step in the right direction but it should also lead to suspending the questionable campaign to go after tambays,” Pangilinan said in a text message on Friday.
The senator made the remark when sought for comment on the Quezon City Police’s announcement that they would file charges against two detainees allegedly involved in the killing of Genesis Argoncillo a.k.a “Tisoy.”
READ: Fellow detainees to face charges for death of ‘Tisoy’ – QCPD
Argoncillo was among those reportedly arrested during the police anti-tambay drive last June 15 although the police clarified that he was nabbed for alarm and scandal.
He died at Quezon City Police Station 4, four days after his arrest.
“The senseless death would not have happened in the first place if Argoncillo was not arrested in the controversial government campaign initiated,” said Pangilinan, an opposition lawmaker.
“The initial attempt to cover up the case by the police claiming he was mentally ill is also unacceptable and should be dealt with squarely,” he added.
Alarmed over conflicting statements
Senator Bam Aquino, meanwhile, expressed alarm over the police’s conflicting statements surrounding Argoncillo’s death.
“Nakakabahala pa na paiba-iba ang deklarasyon ng pulis sa dahilan ng kaniyang pagkamatay,” Aquino said in a statement.
He also lamented the fact that another poor citizen became of the victim of the admininstration’s new anti-crime campaign.
“Mahirap na naman ang biktima. Tumambay lang sa tindahan, nanonood ng video sa cellphone, inaresto dahil hindi naka-tshirt. Ngayon, nakaburol na,” Aquino said.
“Napakasakit nito sa kanyang naiwang pamilya at napakasakit na nangyayari ito sa ating bayan.”
Aquino noted that most of those arrested in the anti-tambay drive were poor and that the crackdown is being done in poor communities. /vvp
