IBP says Duterte’s verbal order vs. tambay not a basis for arrest

President Rodrigo Duterte's verbal order for the police to go after loiterers or "mga tambay" is not enough basis for the arrest of bystanders in the country's streets, the president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines has said.

According to Ivan Mayrina's report on "24 Oras", IBP national president Abdiel Fajardo said the Supreme Court had long before ruled against obligatory invitations by the police.

"Yung verbal order po ay medyo duda po tayo sa legality ng isang arrest na hindi nakasaad talaga sa papel kung ano 'yung elemento ng offense o krimen na naging basehan ng warrantless arrest," Fajardo said.

"Matagal na pong hindi sinang-ayunan 'yan ng Supreme Court natin. 'Yung mga dampot-dampot at imbitasyon... Imbitasyon nga e. 'Pag imbitasyon, pwedeng tumanggi," he added.

Fajardo said those who are taken in also have the right to remain silent and to have an attorney while in detention.

According to the Commission on Human Rights, no person on the street may be arrested on mere suspicion that he or she is up to no good.

The CHR said individuals may not be arrested if they were doing nothing criminal.

Almost 3,000 persons  have been arrested since Duterte made the declaration last week. —NB, GMA News