Cops to consult local execs on “anti-tambay”

CEBU, Philippines — After some fine tuning and consultations with the local government units, the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas will immediately start implementing the directive of Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde to clean the streets from loiterers.

PRO-7 director Chief Supt. Debold Sinas the implementation will be anchored on the local ordinances.

“Immediately the directive will be followed, we will harmonize ang plano kung unsaon pag implement aron tanan pareho ang policy,” Sinas said.

Sinas said he will meet with all the field commanders for a common guidelines in the implementation of “anti-istambay” policy. He said that homeless people dwelling on the streets might be included in the campaign.

Sinas said he already directed the provincial and city commanders to come up with an initial plan which will be included in the policy that is currently being drafted. He said that there will be no specific time when istambays are allowed on the streets. He said it will be a continuous campaign like conducting checkpoints and other anti-criminality drive.

“It does not matter ang time but priority ang gabii, kanang mga local nga police kahibaw asa ang istambay, ang mga istambay sa mga ngitngit nga lugar mao to ang priority,” Sinas said.

Sinas, however, said that istambays will not be jailed immediately. He said that first time offenders will be reprimanded while those who are apprehended twice or more will be dealt with according to the local ordinance in the place where they are arrested.

Cebu City Police Office director Senior Supt. Joel Doria said that information dissemination will be made to warn the public of the new policy.

“For Oplan Tambay, we will be gathering references para sa basis, information dissemination, warning lang muna and then implement na, arrest will be made,” Doria said.

Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III said the police should specify what instances of loitering is not allowed to guide the conduct of the citizens.

Davide said that in the province, there are already cities and municipalities which have implemented curfew ordinances, especially to minors, even before the PNP issued the directive.

Davide explained that it is important for the citizens to be informed what forms of loitering should be avoided.

"I am not really sure unsay pasabot nila sa tambay. (Is it) nagtagay daplin sa dalan, nagsugal daplin sa dalan? Kana angay tingali dakpon but kung naglingkod lang tingali, then I'm really not sure," he told reporters, highlighting the importance of clarity on what forms of 'vagrancy' that will result in arrest. (FREEMAN)