The government’s campaign against so-called ‘tambay’ or street loiterers resulted in the arrest of 133 individuals, most of them minors, who violated curfew ordinances during separate operations over the weekend in the southern part of Metro Manila.
Supt. Jenny Tecson, spokesman of the Southern Police District, said 74 of those apprehended violated the curfew on minors while 53 were caught smoking and drinking in public.
She said six other persons were also arrested for being half-naked, littering and urinating in public.
Most of the minors were apprehended in the area of Muntinlupa City with 37 numbers of arrested followed by Parañaque City (15) and the cities of Makati (11) and Las Piñas (11).
Parañaque also got the highest number of apprehended persons for drinking in public (22) while Muntinlupa topped the list of police stations with the highest number of individuals caught for smoking in public (17).
The SPD and its police stations, in close coordination with the local government units and barangay officials, are conducting the police operations in the cities of Parañaque, Pasay, Taguig, Makati, Las Pinas and Muntinlupa, and the town of Pateros.
SPD chief Eliseo Cruz said his district is supporting the government’s campaign initiated by President Rodrigo Duterte to go against idlers to get rid of people loitering in the streets, especially at night.
The National Capital Region Police Office reminded police personnel that they should arrest only those who will violate municipal or city ordinances.
However, authorities clarified that police can question any suspicious person loitering but not necessarily violating any specific ordinance regarding their presence and business in the area.
These persons should not be apprehended but instead, be adviced to be cautious or leave the area so as not to be victimized by lawless elements.
