Lacson on PNP drive vs ‘tambays’: Keep it local

Sen. Panfilo Lacson INQUIRER file photo

Senator Panfilo Lacson believes that the issue of “tambays” (loiterers) can be best addressed at the local level since the arrests were based on local ordinances anyway.

“If they say, being ‘tambay’ violates local ordinances, keep it local,” Lacson, who headed the Philippine National Police from 1999 to 2001, said in a statement on Thursday.

“The Chief, PNP (Philippine National Police) doing all the explaining and justifying instead of the concerned local chiefs of police only adds up to the suspicion and criticisms,” he added.

Lacson said it would be better to leave the arrest of loiterers to the local chiefs of police, who could implement local ordinances under the provisions of the PNP Law.

He cited as an example the “highly successful anti-criminality experience” of Davao City under then-Mayor and now President Rodrigo Duterte, which he said gained “widespread and almost unanimous public support from local residents.”

“The highly successful Davao City anti-criminality experience under then-Mayor Rodrigo Duterte gained widespread, almost unanimous public support from Davaoeños, and as recent history tells us, even catapulted him to where he is now,” said the senator.

Lacson also cited the success story of Marikina City, where the administration of then-Mayor Bayani Fernando managed to address the issue as part of its anti-criminality campaign.

The experiences in the cities of Davao and Marikina, he said, could be a “good template” for the PNP to replicate.

Duterte earlier directed authorities to be strict with loiterers, calling them “potential trouble for the public.”

“If you don’t go home, I would bring you to the office of—Pasig. I’ll take care of it. Just leave it there. Tie the hands—I would throw it there,” the President said.

READ: 3,000 ‘tambays’ arrested in public order drive in Metro

Following Duterte’s remarks, the police have reportedly arrested thousands of people for allegedly violating various ordinances: drinking in public, being half-naked in public, smoking in public, traffic violation, littering, late-night videoke, urinating in public, and violating curfew hours.   /kga