Palace: Duterte order vs. tambays a crime prevention measure

Malacañang on Friday defended President Rodrigo Duterte’s pronouncement for policemen to be strict toward loiterers or "tambays," saying it is a measure to keep the streets free from criminals.

Duterte’s directive to the Philippine National Police on Wednesday drew mixed reactions after the chief executive appeared to have suggested throwing into the Pasig River loiterers who resist orders to go home.

“The President’s tambay remarks simply mean he wants a strict enforcement of city ordinances as part of making our streets safe from criminals and other unscrupulous elements,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said in a message to reporters.

Tambay is short for "istambay," which is derived from the English "stand by" and commonly refers to an idler or a jobless person.

“It is more of crime prevention; hence, the President's remarks are for the police to ask those who stay late at night in the streets to go home,” he added.

Roque assured the public that loiterers will not become victims of illegal arrests.

"Should they be arrested if they refuse? The President as a lawyer knows that if no crime has been committed, there is no basis for arrest," he said.

The Palace spokesman added: “But just the same, he would rather that those loitering should go home so that those people with bad intentions are thwarted."

Even before the President’s order, policemen were already implementing ordinances against drinking liquor in the streets and going out half-naked. — MDM, GMA News