MMDA chief sharpening enforcers’ claws

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando announced yesterday he is ready to come up with a measure that intends arm his operatives with bolos for their protection following violent incidents during sidewalk clearing operations.

Fernando said that last week’s incident in Magallanes, Makati City involving the fatal shooting of vendor Iladio Tuacar at the hands of a member of the Traffic Enforcement Group has strengthened his argument in favor of arming MMDA operatives.

Although Tuacar was the first casualty in the clearing of sidewalk vendors, Fernando said that it was not the first time that the lives of MMDA operatives were threatened.

He pointed out that the first incident took place in Guadalupe, Makati City, where a member of vendors’ group pulled out a gun to scare away MMDA operatives.

The second incident took place in Cubao, Quezon City, where operatives were forced to run away after they were attacked by a katana-yielding vendor.

In the Tuacar incident, MMDA operatives claimed that they were fired upon by the vendor.

Fernando said the need to arm enforcers has increased and he is ready to issue an executive order to pave the way for this measure.

"It is my prerogative as MMDA Chairman to issue an EO for this," Fernando said, adding the issuance would come anytime now.

Arming MMDA operatives as well as traffic enforcers with bolos was patterned after a practice in Marikina City, where Fernando served as mayor for nine years.

He pointed out that the bolos were meant to serve as deterrents to possible attacks on enforcers of Marikina City.

"During my nine years as mayor I never encountered an instance where the bolo was actually used," Fernando said.

In the context of Metro Manila, Fernando noted, enforcers and operatives are faced with the constant threat of being harmed by the persons being apprehended because most of them carry some sort of weapon.

The MMDA chief said he has also asked Metro police chief Director Reynaldo Velasco to provide the MMDA with 100 more policemen to serve as security escorts for his operatives.

As of last week, Velasco has designated 30 additional policemen to the MMDA to join the sidewalk clearing operations.

The MMDA has 1,000 policemen under his command, but almost all up these are assigned to the traffic operations.

Militant groups rallying behind the sidewalk vendors have vowed to parade the corpse of Tuacar at the MMDA offices in Makati City. – Marvin Sy