EDITORIAL - Loitering

There are many reasons why people loiter in the streets. One is that they intend to foment mischief or commit a crime, especially petty offenses such as vandalism. A number of them look for pockets to pick and purses or mobile phones to snatch. Some are part of the flesh trade. Others amuse themselves by making wolf-whistles and catcalls at passing women.

People welcome any effort to rid the streets of such individuals, including the latest campaign that has seen hundreds of loiterers or istambay rounded up by police in the city of Manila alone.

The campaign, however, needs careful implementation, because there are many other reasons for spending idle time in the streets. One is that the loiterer has nothing else to do; jobless individuals and out-of-school youth usually spend their idle time outside their homes.

This raises another reason for loitering on the street, which is that the idler’s home is too cramped and poorly ventilated so the person prefers to while the time outdoors. This is why police are rounding up the largest number of istambays in the slums, where there is hardly room to move in the shanties.

Still another reason for loitering is the lack of parks and other public recreational areas where residents especially the youth can gather and pass the time. In Metro Manila and other urban centers, residents have set up makeshift basketball courts right on the street, further slowing down traffic flow. Children also play hopscotch and other games on the streets and sidewalks.

Crime prevention measures are always welcome especially in a country with Asia’s highest homicide rate and a serious drug problem. The roundup of loiterers, however, must be done with caution as it could violate certain basic rights guaranteed by the Constitution. If the government wants to discourage loitering, it should take away the reasons for it, by providing meaningful employment and public venues for community recreational activities.