SENATORS ALLIED with the administration agree with critics that the “anti-tambay operations” of the police sows confusion and needs to be more aligned with local government ordinances.
Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian suggested that the Philippine National Police (PNP) change the campaign’s tag to “anti-pasaway” to address concerns that it would target innocent bystanders on the street.
“The anti-tambay campaign is very confusing because they cannot arrest those who are just standing in the streets. They should go after those who drink alcohol or gamble in the streets,” Mr. Gatchalian said at the Balitaan sa Maynila media forum on Sunday and a press statement released on Monday.
Senator Aquilino L. Pimentel III raised the same issue saying that the PNP should instead help local government units (LGUs) in enforcing local ordinances such as penalizing drinking in public, occupying sidewalk meant for pedestrians, walking shirtless in public, and curfew.
However, he discouraged anti-loitering ordinances as these may be unconstitutional for being vague.
“PNP Legal should offer help to all LGUs with anti-loitering ordinances to review the substance of their ordinances to find out if these are not susceptible to a constitutional challenge based on the void for vagueness doctrine,” he told reporters via telephone message.
Opposition Senator Paolo Benigno A. Aquino IV, meanwhile, on Monday filed a resolution seeking to probe the police operations and the death of Genesis “Tisoy” Argoncillo, who was killed inside the Quezon City Police District jail after he was arrested for alleged alarm and scandal.
Senate Resolution No. 772 urged the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, chaired by Senator Panfilo M. Lacson, to investigate the matter and assess whether the PNP’s operations and local ordinances against loiterers comply with the Constitution and national laws.
“There are details that are conflicting but what’s clear for me is that Tisoy should not have died. He would not have died if the policy targeting the poor was not enforced,” Mr. Aquino said in a statement. — Camille A. Aguinaldo

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