Palace: Legal remedies available to protect citizens against illegal arrests

Malacañang said Monday there are established mechanisms in order to protect people against illegal arrests amid concerns on the government's intensified crackdown on "tambays" or nighttime idlers.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said any citizen can file in court a petition for writ of habeas corpus, writ of amparo or seek civil damages to deal with policemen "who will act in excess of authority."

A writ of habeas corpus gives a person the right to contest before the court his or her arrest and detention.

A writ of amparo is a remedy available to any person whose right to life, liberty, and security is violated or threatened with violation by an unlawful act or omission of a public official or employee, or of a private individual or entity.

"Institutionalized na po iyan, nandiyan ang Bill of Rights. Kung talagang walang basehan iyan, eh nandiyan naman po ang ating mga hukuman," Roque told reporters.

A total of 2,981 individuals were arrested from June 13 to June 18 over various violation of city and municipal ordinances in Metro Manila, according to the Philippine National Police.

This was after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered authorities last week to step up their campaign against loiterers in the streets whom he viewed as "potential trouble for the public."

Roque had said Duterte only wanted a strict enforcement of city ordinances as part of making the streets safe from criminals and other unscrupulous elements. — RSJ, GMA News