Police operations against the so-called tambay or street loiterers continue even during the celebration of New Year.
Elements of the Southern Police District apprehended 85 individuals, 38 of them involved in a street gang riot in Muntinlupa City, the night before New Year’s Day.
SPD spokesperson Jenny Tecson said 35 of those apprehended violated the curfew on minors while 12 were caught smoking in public places.
She added the city of Muntinlupa got the highest number of minors apprehended.
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 Piñas and Muntinlupa, and the town of Pateros.
Authorities said the police operation is in line with the government’s continuing campaign against loiterers on the streets aimed to ensure a peaceful community, especially at night.
In Las Piñas City, 21-year-old Chinese national Wen Hong Tao was arrested inside Cowboy Grill along Alabang-Zapote Road in Barangay Almazan 1 on New Year’s Eve for alarm and scandal.
The suspect was also accused of beating up one Jenny Rose Batain inside the establishment. He is now detained pending the filing of criminal charges before the city prosecutors office.
Police also arrested 26-year-old Reynaldo Guarte and Robert Supetran, 33, for trespassing in Makati City while Roberto Garcia, 39, was apprehended for beating up Armando Maravilla in Barangay Sta. Rosario Silangan in Pateros, both incidents also happened on New Year’s Eve.