144,548 ordinance violators held in Metro Manila

MANILA, Philippines — A total of 144,548 tambays or loiterers have been apprehended for violating city ordinances in Metro Manila since June, a police official said.

Of the number, 97,725 persons were reprimanded for being first-time offenders, 31,382 were released after paying fines, 15,441 were charged in court and 24 others remain in police custody, according to National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Guillermo Eleazar.

The arrests were made from June 13 to Aug. 19.

The NCRPO said 10,561 individuals were nabbed for drinking in public places; 50,719 violated the smoking ban; 15,269 for roaming on the streets without shirts; 15,450 minors for violating curfew hours, and 50,549 for violating other ordinances.

The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) headed by Chief Superintendent Joselito Esquivel made the most number of arrests with 50,944.

The Eastern Police District under Senior Superintendent Bernabe Balba came in second with 46,903 arrests.

The Manila Police District nabbed 18,593 ordinance violators; Southern Police District, 17,205, and Northern Police District, 10,903.

Eleazar said 14 violators remained in custody at the SPD and 10 others are being held at the QCPD.

He ordered his five police districts to determine why the number of ordinance violators kept growing despite the information drive conducted by the NCRPO.

Eleazar said they would continue arresting ordinance violators to rid the streets of tambays. – Cecille Suerte Felipe