More on warnings than arrests

By Shiela Mae Butlig
Correspondent .

The implementation of the anti-loitering campaign in Misamis Oriental is not as intense in other provinces even though the police could be strict in admonishing loiterers to go home than loitering aimlessly in the streets, the province’s top cop said.

In an interview, police provincial director Senior Supt. Rolando Destura said he does not want to be too strict in implementing “Oplan Tambay” in Misamis Oriental.

“Hindi po natin ramdam yong presence nung mga tambay sa area of responsibility natin,” said Destura.

He said the low number of loiterers can be attributed to the abundance of job opportunities in the province.

“Busy po ang mga tao sa trabaho nila,” he said adding that if there should be loiterers they would be people resting or relaxing at the beach during their downtime.

Destura said he has ordered his personnel to be “diplomatic” in calling out loiterers.

“Hindi natin pwedeng galawin ang mga yan (loiterers),” said Destura.

Destura said they are more on issuing warnings to loiterers than arresting them.

“Kung makakita man kami nang mag tatambay, i-aases kung madala sa diplomatic approach then paulion,” he said.

As of this writing, there have been no arrests of loiterers in the province.

Meanwhile, Tagoloan Police have started implementing the anti-tambay campaign but have yet to arrest a single loiterer.

Like what Destura said, they will not apprehend a certain bystander but will only advise them to go home.

“Nag implement na mi, pero advice to go home lang namo mga bystander kay naghulat pa mi sa municipal ordinance kay gi update pa nila, a police officer said.

But minors who will be caught violating the curfew will rounded up and turned over to the Municipal Social Welfare Development  Office.