Trillanes wants Senate probe on PNP’s ‘anti-tambay’ drive

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV at the Kapihan sa Senado forum. INQUIRER.net/CATHY MIRANDA

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV has sought for an investigation into the controversial crackdown of “tambays” or loiterers carried out by the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Trillanes filed on Thursday Senate Resolution No. 775, which noted that “the seeming arbitrary arrest of ‘tambays’ is rife with possible human rights violations as it constitutes warrantless arrest similar to that during martial law.”

In the same resolution, Trillanes asserted that the campaign “poses a grave threat to human rights of Filipinos and violates due process of law.”

He also said that the so-called anti-tambay drive runs counter to the objectives of a policy aimed at making streets safer “as it only promotes a culture of fear and injustice, especially among the poor, who has been continually targeted by this ‘anti-tambay’ crackdown.”

Trillanes wants the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs to look into the issue, even noting that the administration’s campaign against loiterers had already resulted in the death of a detainee – Genesis “Tisoy” Argoncillo, 22.

Agoncillo was arrested last June 15 due to alarm and scandal, according to police. Four days later, however, Argoncillo’s family found him dead in a hospital “bearing several marks of beating.”

But Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Director Chief Supt. Joselito Esquivel Jr. Had denied allegations of police brutality in the death of Argoncillo.

READ: QCPD chief says death of detainee not due to police brutality

At the lower House, the Makabayan bloc had filed two resolutions seeking investigation into Argoncillo’s death  as well as the “illegal arrest” of over 7,000 loiterers.

READ: Makabayan bloc seeks probe into PNP’s ‘illegal arrest’ of 7,000 ‘tambays’ / Makabayan solons seek probe on ‘Tisoy’ death

In a speech last June 13, President Rodrigo Duterte directed authorities to be strict with tambays, saying they are “potential trouble for the public.”

“‘Yung kalsada, ‘yung highways are – we built it for the law-abiding citizens. Ang mga criminal dapat diyan, ang mga durugista, they are not supposed to be there. So my directive is ‘pag mag-istambay-istambay diyan sa, sabihin niyo, ‘Umuwi kayo. Kay ‘pag hindi kayo umuwi ihatid ko kayo doon sa opisina ni ano — Pasig,’” Duterte said.

(We built the streets and highways for the law-abiding citizens. The criminals and the druggies are not supposed to be there. So my directive is when you see a loiterer, tell them, “Go home. If you don’t go home, I will bring you to the office of —in Pasig.”)

“Do not… You be strict. Part of confronting people who do not do nothing and just idling around, they are potential trouble for the public,” he added.

Following this statement by the President, the PNP has launched its crackdown against tambays who violated city ordinances such as drinking, smoking or urinating in public places; illegal peddling; littering; breaching peace and order; and concealing deadly weapons, being half-naked in public, among others.   /kga

RELATED STORY: Solon on Duterte’s directive vs ‘tambays’: Is this martial law redux?