Kabataan Rep. Sarah Elago. INQUIRER.net photo / Gabriel Pabico Lalu
Raising concerns over the recent anti-crime drive, a partylist representative said that the campaign of the Philippine National Police (PNP) shows similarities to the operations of the Philippine Constabulary during the height of martial law.
“Yan ay isang throwback, tulad ng isang taktika na ginamit noong martial law na kung saan noong 1970s ang Philippine Constabulary ay basta na lang nagbubukas ng mga checkpoint arbitrarily, at nagkakaroon ng mga arbitrary arrest,” Kabataan Rep. Sarah Elago said during a forum on Saturday.
(That is a throwback, just like a tactic being used during 1970s when the Philippine Constabulary arbitrarily set up checkpoints and implemented arbitrary arrests.)
The lawmaker also responded to questions whether President Rodrigo Duterte would possibly declare a nationwide martial law.
“Hindi lang nangangamoy, umaalingasaw ‘yong threat (ng martial law),” she replied.
(It does not just smell, but reeking of the threat.)
“Ngayon para na tayong may undeclared martial law. Bagama’t walang pormal na deklarasyon ang pangulo, ‘yong simpleng ‘kung ano ‘yong sasabihin niya lang, susundin na lang ng pulis, napaka-mapanganib no’n sa ating bayan,” she explained.
(Now, it is like we have a declared martial law. Although there is no formal declaration from the President, but from his simple words the policemen would immediately follow, that is very dangerous for our country.)
The President has denied on Friday night that he had ordered policemen to arrest “tambays” or loafers, saying that he never said “arrested” in his speech.
“My directive is, if you’re just standing by (in the streets), tell them: ‘Go home. If you don’t go home, I’ll bring you to the office in Pasig,” President Duterte said in his controversial message.
READ: Duterte: I did not order ‘tambay’ arrests
After this directive, the PNP has rounded up at least 7,000 bystanders and loiterers within Metro Manila in just a week. The administration’s critics have slammed the operations, while the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has defended it, saying that the arrested individuals are law violators.
“Kahit nga hindi ka tambay but if you are violating pertinent laws and appropriate city ordinances into place, huhulihin ka namin,” he said.
(Even if you are not a loafer, but if you are violating pertinent laws and appropriate city ordinances, you’ll be arrested.)
READ: NCRPO chief: Crackdown vs ‘tambay’ doesn’t target the poor
Elago said that they will watch over the administration’s next steps in handling this issue, especially after the death of a detainee inside the Novaliches Police Station.
“Nanawagan ang Kabataan na itigil ang ilegal na mass arrest dito sa ating mga tambay, na nagdulot na nga ng isang pagkamatay,” she added.
(The Kabataan is calling a stop on this illegal mass arrest against loafers, which already claimed the life of one.) /jpv