Policemen invite a young man to the police station for loitering at night and going shirtless in public.
MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte said accosting street idlers is necessary to instill discipline and eventually to prevent street crimes.
The Chief Executive also clarified there is nothing to worry about as not a single “tambay” has been arrested.
“Sundin lang ninyo ang utos ko. Wala namang inaaresto. (Just follow my order. No one is being arrested.) I just don’t want you using the streets to loiter,” Duterte said.
Duterte stressed that law abiding citizens should not be alarmed by his directive. Instead, those who are doing unlawful acts are the ones who should be threatened.
He assured that no abuse is being committed in the government’s crackdown on street idlers; only protection of human rights.
“Huwag kang mag-istorbo ng tao. Para iyan sa peace-loving citizens. If you’re a son of a b****, then don’t show your face there. Hindi ako lalampas diyan, hindi rin ako baba — straight lang iyan,” said the President.
(Do not disturb other people. This [directive] is for peace-loving citizens. If you’re a son of a b****, then don’t show your face there. I will not go beyond, nor under deliver — just go straight. )
Meanwhile, Malacañang denied reports that the number of arrested “tambays” has allegedly reached 7,000.
“Ang nangyari po siguro diyan, nasita no less than seven thousand…Kasama na iyan sa seven thousand. Kasi physically may problema na po tayo sa mga kulungan ngayon. Hindi na magkasya,” Roque explained.
(Maybe, the number of tambays that were told off is not less than seven thousand…They are already included in the seven thousand. As it is, we already have a problem with congestion in detention cells.) – Rosalie Coz / Marje Pelayo
The post Duterte defends ‘crackdown’ vs. street idlers appeared first on UNTV News.