Sen. Grace Poe. Photo by Cathy Miranda/INQUIRER.net
Senator Grace Poe threw her support behind President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive against bystanders loitering at night, but at the same time urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) to train its personnel on the proper procedures in their operations.
“We recognize the objectives of the ‘anti-tambay operations,’ however, implementing it requires clear guidelines and safeguards against violation of human rights,” Poe, vice chair of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, said in a statement.
Poe said that PNP should always prioritize the rights of the loiterers.
“The Philippine National Police should orient its enforcers on the ground on how to handle the so-called loiterers, mindful of their rights and exercising the highest degree of restraint that authorities should observe,” she added.
In a previous speech, President Duterte warned “tambays” or loiterers, telling them to go home as he claimed that they were a cause of crime in the streets.
PNP officials led by Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde heeded the president’s call, apprehending almost 3,000 bystanders in Metro Manila in a span of five days.
Albayalde stressed that those arrested violated laws like ordinances on smoking, urinating or being half-naked in public.
READ: Palace: Enforcing laws vs ‘tambays’ is part of crime prevention / 3,000 ‘tambays’ arrested in public order drive in Metro
Other lawmakers denounced the president’s orders, comparing it to the scenario during the Martial Law era of former President Ferdinand Marcos.
Malacañang defended President Duterte, saying that the directive would not lead to a nationwide declaration of martial law.
READ: Albayalde: Nothing new in campaign vs ‘tambays’ / Roque anti-‘tambay’ order won’t lead to martial law declaration
Poe said she wanted the program to succeed, saying the measure was a good way to prevent crime. However, she noted that it should not come at the expense of the public’s perception of the government.
“We want this to succeed so that our streets would be rid of criminals and unscrupulous elements without instilling fear and misery among the public,” she added. /cbb