Bloody row looms over demolition of old Malabon public market

A bloody confrontation looms between stallholders of the Malabon Public Market and the city government following reports the old market will be demolished “anytime soon.”

Some of the affected vendors told The STAR they will fight tooth-and-nail to block the demolition.

City hall officials who declined to be named denied any such plans are being contemplated by the city hall.

Sources said City Mayor Canuto “Tito” Oreta, who announced the construction of a new market sometime last month backed down from the plan to demolish the rundown structure until “after things have quieted down.”

The vendors said they fear that they might not get their slots back when the new building is completed. They said they might not be able to pay the new rates that will be imposed by the city hall. They also claimed that the bidding process was rigged to favor persons close to the authorities. The vendors who requested anoymity said they were not notified about the bidding, an allegation denied by city officials who requested anonymity.

Neither Oreta nor City Legal Officer Roberto Lim, who was authorized to speak on the issue in behalf of the city hall, could not be immediately reached for comment.

The old Malabon Public Market, bounded by F. Sevilla ad Estrella streets, is a spitting distance from the new 11-story Malabon City Hall.

STAR sources said the rundown, perennially flooded market is no longer patronized by most residents and appear to be neglected for a long time already. – Jerry Botial