Duterte dares critics to challenge anti-tambay order before SC

President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday challenged critics of his order for authorities to round up loiterers in the streets to question its legality before the Supreme Court (SC).

Duterte issued the remark as some senators and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) criticized the policy given that vagrancy had been decriminalized in 2012.

"If you are unruly, talagang sabihin ko 'uwi ka o hindi arestado ka,' that is a police power of the state. Let them contest it sa Supreme Court," the President said in a speech during the National Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Summit in Davao City.

"Bawalan niyo ako? Sige. Larga kayong lahat. Lahat ng gustong mamasyal. Lahat ng holdaper sige lumabas kayo. Bigyan ko kayo until the end of the year. Do it. Tingnan natin," he added.

Duterte acknowledged that loitering is not a crime but he maintained those drinking liquor in the streets must be apprehended.

"I never said arrested but if you are drinking diyan sa alley, yung mga squatters area, if you are there making a sala out of the road there. Huhulihin talaga," he said. "Para malaman ng mga ulol na constitutionalists na ito loitering is not a crime. Of course, it is not."

The President also advised everyone to review what he said to uniformed personnel on June 13 when he gave the order to apprehend street idlers.

"Why don't you at least listen o i-rewind mo yung anong sinabi ko? Sinabi ko, 'You go home. Do not congregate,'" he said. 

"Of course I can accost you. Sabihin ko what are you doing here? If you are a minor under the power of parents patria you are the father of the nation you can always give an advice for people kagaya ng minors."

Parens patriae is a Latin phrase for “father of the nation” which refers to the power of the state to act as guardian for those who are unable to care for themselves including children.

Duterte said that efforts to rid off the streets of loiterers could help lessen crime and maintain peace and order, noting that the problem on illegal drugs “has become far worse.”

Policemen have arrested during week long operations more than 8,000 people in Metro Manila alone for violating curfew ordinances, for drinking in public places or streets, for being half-naked in the streets and other offenses.

The crackdown has faced more scrutiny this week following the death of Genesis Argoncillo while in police custody. While police maintain that he was arrested for alarm and scandal, witnesses have come out saying he was apprehended for going out shirtless. —JST, GMA News