Divisoria vendors rounded up

More than 50 vendors were rounded up by operatives of the Western Police District (WPD) during a cleanup drive in Divisoria, Manila.

SPO4 Ruben Romar of the WPD Station 11 (Binondo-Divisoria area) said vendors were caught in an area declared as a "no vendor zone" by the city government.

Investigators said their wares, which include toys and vegetables, were confiscated by cleanup team.

Romar admitted that police are having difficulty dealing with hard-headed vendors who continue to ply their wares in restricted areas.

"Alam nila na ngayon yung malakas na araw sa pagtitinda kaya kahit bawal tuloy pa rin sila," said Romar of the vendors along the streets of Ilaya, Juan Luna and other streets in Divisoria.

The Manila City government has imposed a "no vendor" policy in Divisoria to ensure a smooth flow of traffic in the area, which is considered the country’s trading capital.

Authorities said the flow of trade is also affected when vendors clog the streets in Divisoria.

Last week, Superintendent Bernardo Diaz and his subordinate were relieved as chiefs of the WPD Station 11 and Juan Luna Police Community Precinct (PCP) for failure to stop vendors from plying their trade in prohibited area. – Cecille Suerte Felipe