(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte clarified that he instructed policemen to enforce the law, and did not order the police to immediately arrest “tambays” or loiterers but just to accost them first and advise them to go home.
In his speech during this year’s National Information and Communications Technology (NICT) Summit on Friday, June 22 in Davao City, President Duterte said he was aware that loitering was not a criminal offense.
“I never said, ‘arrest them.’ ‘Di ba ang sabi ko, do not — ‘you go home. Do not congregate’,” he said.
“I never said arrested. But if you are drinking diyan sa alley, ‘yung mga squatter’s area. If you are there, making a sala out of the road there, huhulihin talaga kita,” he explained.
In his speech on June 13, at the oath-taking of newly promoted uniformed personnel, the President reminded the policemen and other uniformed officers to enforce the law, avoid graft and corruption, and promote “the safety and well-being of our people.”
“Ang mga criminal dapat diyan, ang mga durugista, they are not supposed to be there. So my directive is ‘pag mag-istambay-istambay diyan sa, sabihin niyo, “Umuwi kayo. Kay ‘pag hindi kayo umuwi ihatid ko kayo doon sa opisina ni ano — Pasig,” he said then.
The President further advised the police then, “You be strict. Part of confronting people who do not do nothing and just idling around, they are potential trouble for the public.”
Again, explaining what he said last June 13, Duterte said as the “father of the nation”, he could still order the arrest of loiterers especially those “unruly” who might pose danger to other people especially women and children.
“Of course I can accost you. Sabihin ko, ‘what are you doing here?’ If you are a minor under the power of parens patriae, you are the father of the nation, you can always give an advice for people kagaya ng minors,” he said.
Parens patriae is a Latin phrase for “father of the nation” which refers to the principle that a political authority carries the responsibility of the protection of the citizens.
“Kaya sabi ko pag — if you are unruly talagang sabihin ko, ‘uwi ka kundi arestado ka.’ That is a police power of the state,” he added.
He stressed that efforts to rid off the streets of loiterers could help lessen crime and maintain peace and order especially since the problem on illegal drugs “has become far worse.”
(With a Malacanang release)