2 hurt in MMDA clearing drive

A newspaper vendor and a security guard were injured after they were allegedly beaten up by seven Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) enforcers during sidewalk clearing operations yesterday morning in Pasay City.

Vendor Ericson Dimalanta, 18, and security guard Roger Suelo, 26, sustained injuries in various parts of the body.

Suelo was also hit in the head with the butt of a gun. He was rushed to the San Juan de Dios Hospital for treatment, but was discharged a few hours later.

The MMDA enforcers were identified as Felix Esquivel, Angelito Matnog, Ernesto David, Ronald Tresvalles, Emerson Gonzales, Romer Tablate and Joey Fortin.

All seven were apprehended by the Pasay City police and brought in for questioning.

Initial investigation showed the MMDA conducted the sidewalk clearing operation at around 9:30 a.m. at the Pasay-Rotunda area, where some 20 illegal sidewalk vendors were selling their wares.

Dimalanta and a witness told the police the fracas started after an unidentified vendor threw a block of ice at the MMDA enforcers.

Dimalanta claimed he was only helping an elderly vendor when the enforcers vented their ire on him. He said they took turns beating him up with their truncheons. He later managed to run toward a nearby restaurant.

The MMDA enforcers ran after him but were stopped by Suelo at the restaurant’s entrance. Suelo reportedly urged them to settle the dispute peacefully.

Instead the enforcers allegedly grabbed Suelo’s gun and hit him with it before beating him up.

For their part, the MMDA enforcers claimed Suelo poked his gun at them.

A police investigator said Dimalanta and Suelo filed charges of physical injuries and robbery against the enforcers.

Suelo also claimed the enforcers stole his watch. Dimalanta said they took his earnings worth P800.

The MMDA team, for its part, charged Dimalanta for disobedience of lawful order and Suelo, for interfering.