Police collar 7,000 ‘tambays’ violating ordinances

NCRPO Director Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar

There is no stopping the Philippine National Police (PNP) in rounding up “tambays” or nighttime idlers as it arrested more than 7,000 people for allegedly violating ordinances in Metro Manila during the past week.

From 5:00 a.m. of June 13 to 5:00 a.m. of June 20, 2018, the five districts of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) arrested as much as 7,291 “tambays” in the past week, its regional director Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar said.

This gives an average of 1,042 arrests per day.

The Eastern Police District — which covers the cities of Pasig, Marikina, Mandaluyong, and San Juan — topped the most number of arrests in the metro with 2,237.

The Southern Police Distric t— which covers the populous cities of Makati, Pasay, Taguig, Muntinlupa, Las Piñas, Parañaque — closely followed with 2,046 arrests.

The Quezon City Police District and the Northern Police District (NPD) followed with 1,146 and 1,011 arrests, respectively.

The NPD covers the industrial cities of Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, and Valenzuela.

The Manila Police District is at the bottom of the list with 851 arrests.

READ: More than 5,000 ‘tambays’ nabbed in 5-day police drive in Metro Manila

The crackdown against “tambays” came after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered authorities on Wednesday to get rid of people loitering in streets, especially at night.

On Tuesday night, Duterte blasted the critics of his directive, particularly human rights groups who warned of abuse of authority by the police.

“Ngayon, itong human rights (groups), do not tell me what to do. Sabi ko iyung mga istambay paalisin niyo iyan, para ang tao maglakad sa gabi,” Duterte said in a speech during the 81st anniversary celebration of the Government Service Insurance System.

(These human rights groups, don’t tell me what to do. I said round up the loiterers so the public may be able to walk safely at night.)

PNP chief Oscar D. Albayalde said there was nothing new in the crackdown.

He clarified that policemen only arrest violators of ordinances, such as drinking, smoking or urinating in public places; illegal peddling; littering; breaching peace and order; and concealing deadly weapons. /cbb