PNP issues guidelines in drive vs ordinance, law violators

Philippine National Police chief Dir. Gen. Oscar D. Albayalde. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA

After numerous requests from the media, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has finally released to the public the guidelines for its controversial campaign against local ordinance violators.

The PNP Public Information Office released on Tuesday the two-page memorandum setting the guidelines for the implementation of the “intensified enforcement of laws and local ordinances to prevent occurrence of street crimes.”

The memorandum was released to all PNP units on June 20, 2018, a week after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the crackdown against “tambays” or loiterers especially at night time.

According to the document, Albayalde orders policemen to arrest violators of local ordinances that pertain to drinking and smoking in public places, roaming the streets without shirts, using the karaoke beyond the allowed time, and minors who violate curfew hours.

READ: Police collar 7,000 ‘tambays’ violating ordinances

Albayalde also directs police units to intensify the conduct of Oplan Sita, Oplan Bulabog, Oplan Bakal, and other police operations to curb criminality.

He said the police should coordinate with barangay officials and the Local Peace and Order Council, as well as the Sanggunian Bayan (Municipal Council) in areas where the campaign has not yet been implemented, Albayalde said.

“Be reminded that among our operational thrusts is the active presence and aggressive deployment of our policemen as an urgent intervention to prevent the occurrence of common street crimes,” the police chief said in the directive.

Albayalde assured the public that the drive against street crimes is in line with existing Police Operational Procedures and observes human rights and dignity of those apprehended.

“The PNP will do everything within the bounds of the law,” he said.

The controversial campaign has drawn public outrage and criticism, especially after the death of Genesis “Tisoy” Argoncillo, who was killed by inmates inside the Quezon City Police District detention cell hours after he was arrested for alleged alarm and scandal in a neighborhood in Novaliches.

Lawmakers have called for an investigation into Argoncillo’s death as well as the “anti-tambay” campaign.

Albayalde had said the PNP would cooperate in the probe and vowed to hold those officers on duty during Argoncillo’s death accountable. With a report from Carol Balita / INQUIRER.net intern / jpv

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