A topless man walking and smoking cigarettes on the street with a noticeable tattoo on his chest saying "Only God can judge me." Photo by YUMMIE DINGDING

Joblessness was blamed Saturday for so many “tambays” or loiterers on the streets following President Rodrigo Duterte’s warning against indolent bystanders.

“Dapat ‘yung sinasabi nilang tambay, dapat po may mga trabaho po ‘yan (Those whom they tag as loiterers they should have jobs),” said Pepsi Cola Workers Association Vice President Ricardo Gandalla.

“Kung walang trabaho, tatambay lang ‘yan, makikipag-kuwentuhan sila sa kapitbahay (without jobs, they just stand by and make small talk),” he added.

But a Makati-based entrepreneur said that jobs can be had for those who really want to work. “The problem with many tambays is that they just don’t want to work,” said the employer of nine persons.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) earlier this month launched a nationwide crackdown on tambays.

President Duterte said loiterers may create “potential trouble for the public” but clarified he did not order their arrest but only to persuade them to go home.

PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde earlier said police were not after loiterers but were out to arrest people who violate local ordinances.

Albayalde also maintained that police have yet to receive any complaint of human rights violations since their intensified operations.