Eviction in Minglanilla turns into commotion

CEBU, Philippines -  The police effort to serve an eviction notice for some vendors who continue to occupy the old Minglanilla Public Market ended in a commotion yesterday when six men, including a member of a religious group, allegedly tried to fight with the law enforcers.

Senior Inspector Richard Gadingan, chief of Minglanilla police, said that around 3 a.m. yesterday, they attempted to implement a notice to vacate all vendors who continue to stay at the market despite an earlier order from the municipal government for them to transfer to the new public market in Barangay Poblacion Ward 2.

However, the six vendors refused to be vacated which resulted to a scuffle.

According to Gadingan, the six vendors refused to leave the premises which forced the police to arrest them for disobedience.

He said the vendors will be facing charges of direct assault against a person in authority while the municipal government will file charges against them for trespassing.

The six men arrested were Franciscan friar Simon Peter Jardinico, 49; Sherbie De los Reyes, 35, president of the Minglanilla Public Market Vendors Cooperative (MPMVC); Raffy Plarisan, 23; Herman Lucero, 42; Archie Bajo, 41 and Rey Traya, 37.

The men denied the allegations that they initiated the trouble and said that they will file counter-suit charges against the police.

Police Officer 1 Clyde Andales, sustained an injury to his right ring finger during the commotion.

According to municipal administrator Concordio Mejias, they issued a notice last August 28 to the remaining vendors asking them to transfer to the new market, but the vendors did not heed the order.

Mejias said that they even filed charges against De los Reyes and Malik Abato, president of the Minglanilla Muslim Vendors Association, for malicious mischief.

Mejias said that the town can now implement the immediate demolition of the old market facility.

In a separate interview, Jardinico said that the vendors only wanted a peaceful solution to the conflict but the police allegedly made actions that caused a violent confrontation.

“Wala nay kamatuoran. Walay nisukol nga vendors, bisa’g usa. Bisa’g sa sugod pa sa among pakigbisog, wala gyud mi nagbinayolente,” Jardinco said.

Meanwhile, Talisay City Mayor Johnny De los Reyes yesterday assured relocation site for residents who will be affected by the road widening project at the Talisay-Toledo Wharf Access Road in Barangay Manipis.

De los Reyes, who visited the site yesterday morning amidst the heavy downpour, said the controversial Lagtang Public Market will be the temporary shelter for the affected families.

“The mayor suggested to Manipis Barangay Captain Emma Cabiluna that the Lagtang Public Market will be the temporary relocation site kay wa pa man gamita,” De los Reyes’ information officer, Vince Monterde, told The FREEMAN.

The Lagtang Public Market is built on a spacious property, which has a total of 2.7 hectares. It was constructed in 2004 during the term of then Mayor Eduardo Gullas.

According to Monterde, the mayor decided to use the Lagtang market as temporary shelter for families who will be affected by the road widening of the Lagtang-Toledo wharf road.

“We have more or less 100 families nga angayan i-relocate,” Monterde explained, saying that Barangay Captain Emma Cabiluna already informed the mayor that they have no areas for a relocation site.

“Si Kapitan Emma Cabiluna niingon nga wa gyud silay relocation site nga nakit-an sa Manipis mao nga nakahuna-huna ang mayor nga adto nalang sa Lagtang Public Market ibutang kay wala naman sab gamita,” Monterde added. (FREEMAN)