anti-tambay

Sen. Bam underscores need to probe Anti-Tambay policy, amid inconsistent statements of the President

Senator Bam Aquino questioned the government’s decision to continue its campaign against loiterers even without legal basis. 

“Maraming mahihirap ang na-agrabyado at namatay pa si Tisoy, bakit pa nila itutuloy?” said Sen. Bam, referring to the death of Genesis “Tisoy” Argoncillo, who died in the custody of the Quezon City Police District. 

“Talagang nakakabahala itong pagtutuloy ng kampanya laban sa tambay dahil hanggang ngayon hindi pa nga nalilinaw ang legal basis nito,” Sen. Bam pointed out. “Isa pa, kailangan munang panagutin ang mga umabuso at ayusin ang proseso.” 

Sen. Bam made the pronouncement after President Duterte reiterated his order to the Philippine National Police (PNP) to ignore critics and continue its campaign against “tambays.” Earlier, the President clarified that he did not order the arrests and that “loitering is not a crime.” 

With Duterte’s inconsistent pronouncements, Sen. Bam underscored the need for the Senate to investigate and clarify the matter. 

“Sa pabagu-bagong polisiya ng administrasyon sa mga tambay, lalong kailangan imbestigahan ito ng Senado para maklaro,” said Sen. Bam, adding that the public and even the PNP are confused with the government’s conflicting statements on the matter. 

Sen. Bam has submitted Senate Resolution No. 772 seeking to investigate the government’s policy against loitering, which he called as discriminatory and anti-poor. 

In his resolution, Sen. Bam urged the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, headed by Sen. Panfilo Lacson, to investigate the matter to protect ordinary Filipinos from unjust, discriminatory and abusive policies and practices. 

“There is a need to assess whether the PNP’s anti-tambay campaign, as well as the local ordinances on which they are supposedly based, are consistent with national laws and the Constitution,” said Sen. Bam. 

Sen. Bam filed the resolution days after Argoncillo died in the custody of the Quezon City Police District. Argoncillo was arrested on June 15 for allegedly causing alarm and scandal, but died four days later. 

The PNP issued different statements regarding Argoncillo’s death. First, it claimed that it was due to self-inflicted trauma then changed it to suffocation due to the severe congestion of prison cells. 

After Argoncillo’s death certificate revealed that he died from multiple blunt force trauma to his neck, head, chest and upper extremities, the QCPD claimed that he died after he was mauled by fellow inmates.

Sen. Bam files resolution to probe death of Tisoy, anti-tambay policy

Senator Bam Aquino has filed a resolution seeking to investigate the government’s policy against loitering and the death of Genesis “Tisoy” Argoncillo, who died in the custody of the Quezon City Police District four days after he was arrested for alleged alarm and scandal. 

“Maraming mga detalye na hindi tumutugma, pero ang malinaw sa akin, hindi dapat namatay si Tisoy,” said Sen. Bam, who filed Senate Resolution No.  772. 

“Hindi sya mamamatay kung hindi pinatupad ang isang polisiya na nakatarget ang mahihirap,” added Sen. Bam. 

In his resolution, Sen. Bam called the campaign against loitering as untenable, discriminatory and anti-poor as he urged the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, headed by Sen. Panfilo Lacson, to investigate the matter to protect ordinary Filipinos from unjust, discriminatory and abusive policies and practices.  

“There is a need to assess whether the PNP’s anti-tambay campaign, as well as the local ordinances on which they are supposedly based, are consistent with national laws and the Constitution,” said Sen. Bam. 

Sen. Bam filed the resolution days after Argoncillo died in the custody of the Quezon City Police District. Argoncillo was arrested on June 15 for allegedly causing alarm and scandal, but died four days later. 

The PNP issued different statements regarding Argoncillo’s death. First, it claimed that it was due to self-inflicted trauma then changed it to suffocation due to the severe congestion of prison cells.  

After Argoncillo’s death certificate revealed that he died from multiple blunt force trauma to his neck, head, chest and upper extremities, the QCPD claimed that he died after he was mauled by fellow inmates. 

“Pumunta lang sa tindahan, inaresto dahil hindi naka-tshirt. Ngayon, nakaburol na. Napakasakit nito para sa pamilya ng biktima at sa ating bansa. Nakakabahala ang paiba-ibang deklarasyon ng pulis sa dahilan ng pagkamatay ni Tisoy,” said Sen. Bam. 

Several citizens also claimed that they were arrested while waiting outside the gate of a friend’s house in Makati City. They were detained for one hour and were shown a video of President Duterte’s pronouncement against “tambays” as basis for their detention. 

On June 17, 2018, a social media post showed CCTV footage of a shirtless man who was accosted in front of his house by roving police seconds after he stepped out of the door in Novaliches, Quezon City. The man, Ariel Morco, was not arrested but was ordered to clean the bathroom of the police station. 

“Halos lahat ng mga naaresto ay mga mahirap at ang mga operasyon ay ginagawa sa mahihirap na komunidad. Tama na po ang pagpapahirap sa mga mahihirap,” Sen. Bam stressed.

Sen. Bam: Solusyunan ang taas presyo, hindi tambay ang problema

The government should solve the pressing problem of high prices of goods and services caused by the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, instead of focusing on so-called loiterers or “tambays”, according to Sen. Bam Aquino.

“Mas matinding problema ang mataas na presyo ng bilihin, hindi mga tambay,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the government’s tax reform program.

“Nalulunod na sa taas presyo ang taumbayan. Sana ito ang pagtuunan ng pansin ng ating gobyerno,” added Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam called on the government to lay a clear-cut plan on how to address the high prices of goods and services to alleviate the plight of Filipinos, especially the poor.

“Ano po ba talaga ang plano ng gobyerno para maisalba ang napakaraming kababayan nating nalulunod sa taas presyo?” said Sen. Bam.

At the same time, Sen. Bam urged the government to stop arresting loiters, most of whom are poor, and focus on the issue that burdens them the most, which is the high prices of goods.

 “Tama na po muna sana ang paghuli sa mga tambay na karamihan ay mahirap. Unahin po sanang tugunan yung nagpapahirap sa kanila,” said Sen. Bam as he renewed his call for the suspension of the excise tax on petroleum products under the TRAIN Law.

Sen. Bam has submitted a measure seeking to roll back of TRAIN’s excise tax on fuel when average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period.

In addition, Sen. Bam is also pushing for the full implementation of mitigating measures under the TRAIN Law, such as the unconditional cash transfer program for poor families and the Pantawid Pasada for jeepney operators and drivers.

Sen. Bam: Tulong, di kulong, para sa mahihirap nating kababayan

Krimen na ba maging mahirap ngayon?

Senator Bam Aquino posed this question as he criticized the government’s campaign against so-called “tambays”, which is mostly conducted in poor communities.

While acknowledging the need for crime prevention efforts, Sen. Bam insisted that it should be implemented without infringing on the rights of Filipinos, especially those in poor communities.

“Halos lahat ng mga naaresto ay mga mahirap at ang mga operasyon ay ginagawa sa mahihirap na komunidad,” said Sen. Bam. “Anti-poor ang ginagawa nilang ito.”

“Nalulunod na nga sila sa taas ng presyo, tapos ngayon ikukulong pa sa halip na tulungan,” added Sen. Bam, referring to the burden of high prices brought by the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

“Tulong po, hindi kulong ang kailangan ng mga mahihirap nating kababayan,” said Sen. Bam as he his call for the full implementation of mitigating measures under the TRAIN Law, such as the unconditional cash transfer program for poor families and the Pantawid Pasada for jeepney operators and drivers.

Sen. Bam is one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law. Sen. Bam rejected it due to the government’s failure to immediately implement the unconditional cash transfer program and the Pantawid Pasada program.

As part of his effort to alleviate the burden of high prices of goods and services, Sen. Bam has filed a measure that aims to roll back of TRAIN’s excise tax on fuel when average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period.

In addition, Sen. Bam also renewed his call for the full implementation of the unconditional cash transfer program, which will help alleviate the increase in high prices of goods and services caused by the TRAIN Law.

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