PNP merely implementing anti-‘tambay’ ordinances

FILE: Secretary Go earlier said the ‘offenders’ were arrested not because they are bystanders. (ALBERT ALCAIN/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)

MANILA — Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go on Saturday defended the government’s drive against “tambays” (drifters) saying the recent arrests by the Philippine National Police (PNP) are merely implementation of local ordinances.

“Ginagawa lang ng pulis ang trabaho nila. Hindi naman sila basta-basta nang-aaresto, ng walang basehan (The policemen are just doing their job. They don’t make baseless arrests),” Go told reporters before the launching of “Sapatos ni SAP, Tsinelas Ka-Swap” at Ynares Center, Antipolo City on June 23.

Secretary Go earlier said the ‘offenders’ were arrested not because they are bystanders.

“They were arrested because they violated some local ordinances in their area against urinating, smoking, drinking in public places and also failed to follow curfew hours,” Go said before the distribution of relief assistance to Sampaloc fire victims last week.

The top presidential aide also slammed critics for wrongly raising human rights issues regarding the arrest of bystanders.

“Yung nga sinasabi ko, kapag ginagawa mo ang trabaho mo, babatikusin ka. Kapag wala kang ginagawa, babatikusin ka.

Natatakot ang mga anak natin maglakad dahil baka bastusin ng mga istambay (That’s what I am saying. If you are doing your job, you will be criticized.

If you’re doing nothing, you will also be criticized.

Our children are afraid of walking because the bystanders might hit on them),” he said.