Police say campaign will continue: Anti-loitering directive hit

CEBU, Philippines — An urban poor organization in Cebu has joined other advocates in calling for a stop to the move of government to clear the streets of loiterers, even as President Rodrigo Duterte said he never made any arrest order.

The Philippine National Police have assured it will observe human rights in its operations, but the Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (KADAMAY) described the operations themselves as anti-poor.

Belinda Allegre, KADAMAY Secretary General for Cebu, said the poor has already suffered much from the policies of government.

She said poor people live in small, crowded places and many of them go out to public, open spaces like the streets to simply breathe some air.

She said that unlike the privileged members of the community, the poor cannot afford to go to and stay at restaurants or cafes at night.

"Kinahanglan na mi mobarug, motindog, ug motingog alang sa among katungod. Nasinati namong mga kabus karon nga naipit na mi tungod sa mga polisiya sa goberno. Ambot unsay nahunahunaan sa atong presidente," Allegre said.

She said the government needs to do a better job in alleviating the situation of the poor – not subject them to “unreasonable” methods of discipline.

The move of the police in calling the attention of loiterers in streets gained public backlash following the death of 22-year-old Genesis Argoncillo in Quezon City in Manila.

On June 18, police placed Argoncillo behind bars after an operation but a dispute with the “leader” at the cell ended with other inmates mauling Argoncillo to death.

The police, yet again, became the subject of controversy when they arrested a group of men who were waiting for a taxi in Makati City. The arresting cops were relieved from their posts for wrongful arrest.

In a speech on June 22 at the National Information and Communications Summit in Davao, Duterte was quoted as saying, “Hindi naman kasi nakikinig itong mga [expletive]. I never said arrest them. But if you are drinking dyan sa alley, ‘yang mga squatters area. If you are there, making a sala out of the roads there, huhulihin talaga kita.”

In Cebu, the police will continue to patrol the streets but Chief Supt. Debold Sinas said no one will be arrested unless they are found to be violating local ordinances, like smoking at non-smoking areas, ignoring curfews, and public disturbance, among others.

“Ako gistoryahan ang mga city directors nga dili na sila dakpon, badlungon lang sila og pangutan-on, dayon paulion those found nga wala’y violations,” Sinas said.

“Eksakto man ang gisulti ni President and ni Chief PNP nga dili dakpon ang mga tambay. Sitahon sila, kanang tin-awon nimo kung unsa ba… wala man sila violation, ngano dakpon man namo? Ang term, sitahon sila,” he added.

Sinas said what happened in Manila might just been a misinterpretation of the president’s directive.

Police headquarters here are also disseminating information, particularly in highly populated areas, about the intent of the directive.

Latest records show that PRO-7 has called the attention of 1,000 loiterers in streets. Of this number, 530 were found violating different city ordinances.

At least 147 were caught drinking at prohibited places, 98 were caught violating a smoking ban, 88 were caught half naked, six were caught dispatching, six were caught using roller skates in the streets, six were caught violating the anti-noise ordinance, three were caught disposing of their wastes in public places, while 21 others were caught involved in riots.

At least 123 minors were also caught violating a curfew. —/JMO (FREEMAN)