Court to rule on fate of Talisay vendors

CEBU, Philippines - The case for preliminary injunction filed by vendors at the Tabunok Public Market against Mayor Socrates Fernandez is now for resolution after the two parties have sufficiently argued their sides of the case.

Counsel for the vendors, lawyer Jorge Esparagoza, told the court that his clients will suffer poverty and hunger if Fernandez will push through with the plan to move the vendors to the new market in Barangay Lagtang.

This is because they would have to go back to square one and establish new customers. The filing of the civil case, Esparagoza said, is purposely to prevent these things from happening.

“This is to prevent the wrongful act and to maintain the status quo,” he said.

Earlier, Judge Douglas Marigomen of the Regional Trial Court Branch 5, issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) to stop Fernandez from implementing his order to transfer the vendors to the new market in Lagtang.

However, Fernandez’s lawyer Owen Algoso said the TRO will actually have no effect because the market in Tabunok will be closed on June 28, 2011, the day after the TRO will expired on June 27.

Meanwhile, Talisay Vice Mayor Alan Bucao yesterday said that even if the vendors can secure a permanent injunction from the court, the city government would still continue with its preparations for the transfer.

“Even with the delay, the city would still continue with the plans and preparations for the market and negotiate with the vendors until they would be agreeable with the transfer,” Bucao said.

As to the suggestions that the Lagtang Public Market should be converted into a public school or a gymnasium, Bucao said the same if very unlikely.

"Maglisud ang syudad ana kay para merkado man gyud na siya. Hamugaway man didto, way rason nga di siya himuong merkado,” Bucao said.

Bucao is among those pushing for the implementation of the scheduled June 28 transfer. The transfer was supposed to start last May 28, but the vendors were granted a 20-day temporary restraining order by the court last May 27. –(FREEMAN)