Bacani hits Malonzo for ‘raid’ on perya

Bishop Teodoro Bacani, district bishop for Caloocan-Malabon-Navotas area, decried the "uncalled-for" stoppage of a parish fiesta fair held for the last 18 years and the illegal arrest of its operators inside the San Roque Parish Church compound by Caloocan City Hall and police operatives.

In a letter to Mayor Rey Malonzo, Bacani deplored the "raid" and accused City Administrator Mamerto Manahan of responsibility. "The act was apparently done upon his behest and under his direction," Bacani wrote Malonzo.

The bishop said he wrote Malonzo "to protest the arrest and prevent the same things from happening again in the future."

"When things can be worked out peacefully and amicably, such arrests, without complaints or warrants, must be oppressive and harmful to peace. Let it not be said that the mayor of Caloocan City allows such oppressive acts to occur right in front of city hall," Bacani said in his letter.

Police City Hall Detachment chief Inspector Redulfin Coloma said the arrests were made based on the alleged complaints of unnamed parishioners of the San Roque Church in Caloocan City who allegedly denounced the operation of a mini-carnival (peryahan) at the churchyard allegedly on the invitation of its parish priest.

Residents near the area said, the operation of the mini-fair had lured their children to gamble aside from tainting the sanctity and the reverence associated with the place.

These led the residents to file complaints with the mayor’s office. The city administrator was immediately ordered to look into the matter.

Bacani said that the proceeds from the fair would have gone to the catechetical apostolate of the parish church.

During the operation, it was found that the mini-carnival had no business permit. Betting games were allegedly being conducted in the church fair.

This prompted the city hall detachment police to arrest workers of the mini-carnival, including its operator, Anita La Torre. The others arrested were Jun Centeno, Winnie Orionda, Julius Gonzales, Ron Mateo, Mark de la Cruz, Ma. Teresa Jesus, and Ricky Pureza. They were all charged with violation of PD 1602, or the anti-gambling law, and City Ordinance 0140 for operating without permit.

La Torre said they did not know that they were operating without a permit since it was only upon the invitation of church officials that they operated in the churchyard.

A copy of a permit was furnished The STAR signed by Business and Licensing Officer-in-Charge Lawyer Nestor Francisco, although unsigned by Malonzo.