PNP releases memo on intensified crackdown vs. ‘tambay’

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