PNP releases memo on

intensified crackdown vs.

‘tambay’
Published June 26, 2018 2:06pm
By MARLLY ROME BONDOC, GMA News

The Philippine National Police on Tuesday released its order on the intensified
crackdown against idlers or "mga tambay," nearly two weeks after President
Rodrigo Duterte ordered them to step up the campaign.

The memorandum with a subject titled, "Intensified Enforcement of Laws and

Local Ordinances to Prevent the Occurrence of Street Crimes," was dated
June 20 and was addressed to all of the Regional Directors, Police Regional
Offices, Directors, and National Operational Support Units.

It was crafted days after the President's directive and on the same day the
PNP said that it has apprehended more than 7,000 individuals who allegedly
violated city or municipal ordinances.

On June 18, Albayalde admitted that the PNP has yet to release its guidelines
on how policemen will strictly enforce local ordinances but maintained that
there is nothing new in the order of the President as it has already being done
by the police.
Under the memorandum signed by PNP chief Director General Oscar
Albayalde, all unit commanders, especially the chiefs of police are directed to
oversee the "strict implementation of laws and local ordinances through arrest
of violators such as those drinking and smoking in public places, roaming the
streets without shirts, using of karaoke beyond the allowed time, minors
violating the curfew hours, etc."

Regional directors were also reminded to "advise and ensure that all chiefs of
police shall coordinate with local/barangay officials in the enforcement of
ordinances and to initiate enactment of ordinances through the local peace
and order councils or Sangguniang Bayan in areas where there are no
existing ordinances in support of this endeavor."

As earlier stated by Albayalde, human rights would also be one of the clauses
under the memorandum just like in any other police operations.

The last clause of the memorandum stated that all regional directors shall
"[e]nsure that all police personnel are performing the aforementioned police
operations in accordance with our existing Police Operational Procedures and
with due regard to the human rights and dignity of apprehended individuals."

The crackdown against loiterers has been heavily criticized following the
death of Genesis "Tisoy" Argoncillo while in police custody. Authorities said
Argoncillo, who was allegedly arrested for "alarm and scandal," was beaten
up by fellow inmates. — RSJ, GMA News