The Eastern Police District (EPD) reported that 889 individuals were apprehended overnight Tuesday, during its simultaneous Oplan Galugad and Oplan Bulabog operations across Pasig, Mandaluyong, Marikina, and San Juan City.
In a report by RH Edniel Parrosa on DZRH’s Dos Por Dos, according to EPD District Director PBGEN Aden T. Lagradante, 708 of those apprehended were fined, while 181 were issued warnings.
The operations are part of the Anti-Criminality Plan “Safe Cities Initiatives” launched by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla, aiming to enforce local ordinances and maintain public safety.
The majority of violations in Metro East involved public drinking and smoking, with 340 individuals cited for such offenses. Traffic violators numbered over 200, while nearly 100 “tambay” or shirtless pedestrians were apprehended.
More than 50 minors were found roaming despite the curfew in effect, and 20 individuals were cited for public urination or littering.
In Marikina, City Police Chief PCOL Jenny DC Tecson personally oversaw patrols and acted against several youths found playing billiards late at night, despite, Marikina has an ordinance prohibiting non-essential outings by minors between 10:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m.
Those without identification confirming their age were required to have their parents contacted.
Tecson told DZRH News that some of the minors caught in previous months had misrepresented their age, and some were not residents of Marikina.
The operations have drawn criticism from youth groups such as Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan (SPARK), which argued that the curfew and related enforcement measures could lead to “abuse of authority and violations of civil liberties.”
The group also questioned Remulla’s rationale for the 10:00 p.m. curfew, saying it could arbitrarily restrict minors’ legitimate activities. They stressed that not all young people carry IDs, and informal workers like helpers, vendors, and errand boys may be unfairly targeted based on appearance or social assumptions.
SPARK called on the DILG to provide evidence that the curfew effectively ensures public safety, rather than relying on stereotypes about youth behavior.
Meanwhile, in response, city social welfare offices assisted in taking custody of apprehended minors before turning them over to their guardians as part of the coordinated operation.
