MANILA - A week after the start of Oplan Tambay, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has already rounded up more than 8,000 “tambays” (loiterers) around Metro Manila, averaging more than 1,000 arrests per day.

The police operation was in response to President Rodrigo Duterte’s order last week to intensify the campaign against loiterers, saying they are “potential trouble for the public.”

PNP Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said at a recent press conference that those arrested had violated local ordinances.

"We are not arresting these people because of the word na 'tambay' sila (that they are bystanders)," Albayalde said.

"They are being arrested or accosted and penalized because they have violations of ordinances, not because they are istambay (bystanders)," he added, citing violations such as smoking in public places, drinking liquor on the streets, and going shirtless in public.

Here are some local ordinances and their corresponding penalties:

Drinking in public:

• Manila (City Ordinance No. 5555) – a fine of P10,000
• Makati (City Ordinance No. 2005-069)

First offense: P1,000 fine or imprisonment for 3 days
Second offense: P1,500 fine or imprisonment for 1 week
Third offense: P2,000 fine or imprisonment for 1 month imprisonment

• Caloocan (City Ordinance No. 0397)

P1,000 to P5,000 or imprisonment for 2 months to 1 year upon conviction

• Parañaque (City Ordinance No. 95-27)

First offense: P500 or imprisonment for at least 5 days
Second offense: P1,000 or imprisonment for at least 10 days
Third offense: P2,500 or imprisonment for at least 30 days

• Pasay (City Ordinance No. 265)

First offense: P500 or imprisonment for 5 days
Second offense: P1,000 or imprisonment for 10 days
Third offense: P2,500 or imprisonment for 1 month

Alarm and scandal:

• Revised Penal Code

Art. 155 under the Revised Penal Code states that a penalty or fine not exceeding P200 pesos and imprisonment for 1 to 30 days will be imposed on violators.

Curfew on minors:

• Manila

P2,000 fine or 48 hours of community service

• Pasay

First offense: warning
Second offense: community service
Third offense: P500 fine

• Las Piñas (City Ordinance No. 455-99 or Curfew to Minors)

P1,000 to P2,000 fine upon conviction

• Quezon City (City Ordinance No. 2301 or Quezon City Discipline Hours for Minors)

First offense: counseling and a fine of P2,000 or 48 hours of community service
Second offense: two counseling sessions and P3,000 fine or 72 hours of community service
Third offense: the minor will be turned over to the city's Social Services Development Department; a fine of P5,000 or imprisonment for 6 months will be imposed on the minor’s parents or guardian

• Taguig (Curfew Hours Ordinance)

First offense: two-hour counseling
Second offense: 4 hours of community service
Third offense: P1,000 fine and 8 hours of community service

• Mandaluyong (City Ordinance No. 538)

First offense: P1,000 fine or imprisonment for 3 months
Second offense: P3,000 fine or imprisonment for 6 months
Third offense: P5,000 fine or imprisonment for 1 year

Smoking in public spaces:

• Manila (City Ordinance No. 7812)

First offense: P2,000 fine and/or imprisonment for 1 day
Second offense: P3,000 fine and/or imprisonment for 2 days
Third offense: P5,000 fine and/or imprisonment for 3 days

• Parañaque (City Ordinance No. 10-09)

First offense: P500 fine
Second offense: P1,000 fine
Third offense: P1,500 fine

• Muntinlupa (City Ordinance No. 17-072 or the Anti-Smoking Ordinance)

P2,500 fine or 8 hours of community service

Nationwide:
Executive Order No. 26
A fine of P500 to P10,000 will be imposed on violators

• Understanding Duterte’s smoking ban

Partial nudity in public

• Marikina (City Ordinance No. 72)

A fine of P500 or one day of community service

• Quezon City (City Ordinance No. 2623)

First offense: P1,000 fine or 3 days of community service
Second offense: P1,500 fine or 5 days of community service
Third offense: P3,000 fine or imprisonment for 6 months
Fourth and subsequent offenses: P5,000 fine or imprisonment for 1 year

• San Juan (City Ordinance No. 8-13)

First offense: Warning
Second offense: P300 fine or 8 hours of community service
Third offense: imprisonment for 3 to 5 days

• Muntinlupa (City Ordinance No. 17-070)

First offense: P500 fine
Second offense: P1,000 fine
Third offense: P1,500 fine

-- Research by Samantha-Wee Lipana