Elago to PNP: Release arrested ‘tambays’

Kabataan Rep. Sarah Elago. (Gabriel Pabico Lalu / INQUIRER.net)

Kabataan Rep. Sarah Elago called on the Philippine National Police to release all arrested “tambays” (loafers) after President Rodrigo Duterte clarified that he did not order the police to make such arrests.

“Dapat pauwiin na ‘yong higit pitong libo na ilegal na na-aresto dahil sa Oplan Kontra Tambay na isinasagawa ngayon ng mga pulis,” Elago said in an interview after a forum at University of the Philippines on Saturday.

(The over 7,000 illegally arrested due to the police’s Oplan Kontra Tambay should be allowed to go home.)

Elago added that President Duterte should also be held accountable for the alleged human rights violations that the arrested loafers have experienced.

“Malaki ang pananagutan dito ni Duterte dahil siya mismo ang nagsabi na ‘yong mga walang ginagawa sa daan na maaaring magdulot ng potential harm sa ating mga kababayan ay maaaring maimbitahan ng mga pulis,” she said.

(President Duterte is highly accountable here because he himself said that people who have nothing to do in the streets may cause potential harm to the public may be invited by the police.)

According to the solon, the PNP’s reaction to President Duterte’s speech shows the police force’s blind obedience to the President.  She claimed that it may be out of gratitude, since salaries of policemen were increased during the current administration.

“Palibasa na-doble ang sweldo, ngayon ay nagsusunod-sunuran.  Kung wala namang mag-uutos nyan ay hindi naman sila gagalaw ng ganyan, at di aabot sa pitong libo ang mga nahuli,” Elago claimed.

(Because their salaries have been doubled, they follow the president.  If no one ordered them, they would not take action, and the number of arrested individuals would not reach 7,000.)

President Duterte expressed his anger towards the  PNP in a speech in Davao on Friday night, saying that he never ordered the arrest of loafers and loiterers.

A former prosecutor, the President said he knows that vagrancy has already been decriminalized.  /muf

READ: Duterte: I did not order ‘tambay’ arrests