Homeless persons at Taboan market freely using shabu?

CEBU, Philippines - If a Public Utility Jeepney driver and his common-law wife are to be believed, homeless people rescued from the sidewalks and relocated to the second floor of the Taboan Public Market are freely sniffing shabu there.

The two made the revelation during an interview at the office of Cebu City Market Administrator Raquel Arce yesterday. The FREEMAN is withholding their names pending action by the government agency.

The couple used to live at the market’s second floor after they were rescued by the members of the Squatters Prevention Encroachment Elimination Division last November 10, 2010, but they were no longer allowed to stay there effective last September 18.

The driver said the reason why they were no longer allowed to stay at the market’s second floor is that Evelyn had a quarrel with a certain “Negra” who is allegedly the girlfriend of a SPEED member.

“Dili man kana maayo ang ila kay kami hinoon nga mga sidewalk dwellers og gipapuyo diha gipalayas nila unya dunay uban diha nga gipapuyo sa mga sakop sa SPEED kay ila mang mga kabit,” he said.

There are almost 100 individuals staying at the market’s second floor while the City Hall is processing their documents for them to be sent home to their respective provinces in line with Rama’s “Balik Probinsya” project.

Arce explained that she was tasked by the mayor to clear the second floor of the Taboan market building where the SPEED is also holding office.

“Sagdi lang kay ako na nga aksyonan ang ilang reklamo nga gihimo na ang maong lugar nga suyopanan sa shabu ug gipapuy-an sa mga kabit sa ubang kawani sa SPEED,” the market administrator assured. — (FREEMAN)