71,000 ‘tambays’ accosted in Metro Manila

MANILA, Philippines — Over 71,000 people in Metro Manila have been accosted by police for violations of ordinances and other laws since President Duterte ordered a crackdown on loiterers, also known as “tambays,” last month to prevent street crimes.

Chief Superintendent Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar, director of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), said in a news forum in Quezon City yesterday that 71,936 persons have been taken into custody since June 13.

Of this number, 10,405 or 14.46 percent are minors whom he said were “rescued” for violating curfew.

A majority of the offenders – 26,083 or 36.26 percent –  were caught smoking in public places.

The other ordinances with the most number of violations are walking half-naked along the streets with 10,224 persons accosted or 14.21 percent, and drinking liquor in public places with 7,565 violators or 10.52 percent.

The remaining 17,659 or 24.55 percent of the night idlers were apprehended for other violations, said Eleazar.

Eleazar clarified that only 22 of the offenders are still in police custody after they were found to have committed other violations. Among these are possession of bladed weapons and narcotics.

He said 43,613 or 60.63 persons of the offenders were only reprimanded and immediately released from their custody.

Eleazar said he has directed police officers in Metro Manila to release first-time offenders who do not have pending criminal records so as not to further congest the metropolis’ already cramped jails.

“If they are first-time offenders, we just warn them,” he said.

A total of 20,439 or 28.41 percent of the violators were fined while 7,884 or 10,96 percent were charged in court.