With the Duterte administration launching a campaign against street idlers or tambays as a crime prevention measure, Senator Dick Gordon has called for the creation of more jobs, so that idle citizens would have less time to spend loitering on the streets, especially at night.
“Idle hands are the devil’s workshop. Kung walang ginagawa at nakaistambay lang, maaaring matukso na gumawa ng hindi maganda katulad ng mang-snatch o makipag-inuman. Kung may trabaho, mawawalan ng oras na tumambay sa mga kalsada. So we should create more jobs para may mapasukan ang mga tao,” Gordon said.
“Street idlers would be more productive if they would look for jobs.”
While granting that people have the right to loiter the streets so long as they are not doing any violations, the veteran legislator pointed out that street idlers would be more productive if they would look for jobs instead.
“People have the right to stay na mag-istambay doon sa isang lugar. Lalo na kung wala siyang ginawa, kung peaceful siya. Huwag lang siya manghaharang ng side walk, huwag lang siya manghihingi, o nag-iinom sa kalye. Pero bakit ka mag-iistambay? E di mag-aral ka na lang o maghanap ka ng trabaho. Kapag wala kang ginagawa, doon ka tinutukso ng demonyo,” the seasoned lawmaker said.
“Law enforcers could advise citizens against loitering in areas where crime rates are high.”
The senator from Olongapo and Zambales also said law enforcers could advise citizens against loitering in areas where crime rates are high, reiterating the importance of having a crime map.
“Policemen could also put more effort kung saan may mga crimes, doon sila mag-operate as a deterrent. Kaya dapat may crime map. Pwede nilang pagsabihan ang mga tao na, ‘maraming crimes sa lugar na ito. For your safety, huwag na kayo mag-loiter dito dahil baka mapagkamalan pa kayo,'” Gordon said.
A total of 7,291 were apprehended from June 13 to June 20 in operations launched after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered authorities to step up the campaign against loiterers on streets.
Individuals were arrested for violating curfew ordinances, for drinking in public places or streets, for being half-naked in the streets, and for smoking in public. Also apprehended were illegal vendors, videoke curfew violators, litterers, illegal barkers as well as those who violated the traffic code.
Other individuals who were arrested include those who violated the prohibition on students entering internet shops, those who urinated in a public place, and those who disrupted peace and public order.