CPP: Police crackdown on ‘tambays’ prelude to martial law

LUCENA CITY – The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) joined the ranks of critics against the police crackdown on the so-called “tambay” saying it is a prelude to the declaration of martial law nationwide.

“The tambay crackdown, which in past days have resulted in the arrests of unsuspecting Filipinos, including workers and students who were only standing at the wrong place at the wrong time, is a rehearsal for the nationwide implementation of martial law,” the CPP said in a statement released by its Information Bureau on Thursday.

The CPP said: “It is this cheap dictator wannabe’s way of forcefully saying “Martial Law is here” without actually making an official declaration.”

The CPP said the government’s latest move serves as a double-edged sword “while raising the climate of fear as the police force run roughshod with impunity over the people’s fundamental rights, including the right against illegal arrests and illegal search and seizure.”

“By arbitrarily arresting citizens without cause, the tambay crackdown serves as a blanket warrant for everyone who opposes the Duterte regime’s tyrannical moves,” the CPP said, adding that Mr. Duterte is again testing the waters in employing autocratic powers.

“If his dictatorial moves are not met with strong resistance he cannot quell, he will inevitably turn his use of force a notch higher,” the communist group said.

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.

Police heeded the president’s call, apprehending an average of 1,042 bystanders per day. The controversial drive against night idlers caused a public uproar with many critics saying the directive violates the people’s basic rights./lb