CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Councilor Alvin Dizon has denounced the city’s demolition team over the alleged violent dispersal of the sidewalk vendors along Natalio Bacalso Avenue.
Dizon accused the members of the Prevention Restoration, Order, Beautification and Enhancement of using excessive force to drive away sidewalk vendors outside the Cebu South Bus Terminal.
Dizon narrated during a privilege speech yesterday that, three female vendors have been harassed by the city’s demolition team recently. In fact, two of them remain in detention as he delivers his speech.
One was allegedly beaten by members of PROBE two weeks ago. Lisa Yangquin, 49, said a member of the PROBE team hit her in the face when she fought back. Sisters Rocelyn and Remafe Tanguilan were also arrested and are now detained at the Carbon Police Station.
The Tanguilan sisters allegedly resisted as PROBE personnel confiscated the merchandise they were selling. One of the sisters bit a PROBE operative while the other hit the side mirror of their vehicle.
“They only have one violation, for selling goods along the area to support the needs of their family. These are defenseless vendors, these are females,” said Dizon.
“While it cannot be denied that there is a need to beautify and clean the city, especially now that we are in the midst of the APEC meetings, but let us be reminded that there is an equal urgency for stronger inclusion and better accountability,” he added.
Dizon said that it is sad that the marginalized sectors in the community were treated as nuisance or eyesores towards the city’s aim for progress.
Stronger inclusion of the marginalized means fairness in the economic procedures and respect for human rights, he said.
“We, as their elected representatives are accountable to them for our promise of stronger inclusion, of making sure that our programs and policies advance equitable opportunities for their benefit and not for anyone else,” Dizon said.
According to Dizon, inclusive development consists of ensuring that all marginalized groups are also stakeholders in the development process rather than to be recognized as mere eyesores that had to be cleared every time foreign delegates visit the city.
“That is our accountability to them, for after all, they gave us their vote so we can be their voice,” he said as he ended his speech.
Dizon’s partymate, Councilor Sisinio Andales, condemned the PROBE team for treating vendors with “straight brutality.”
City Councilor Gerardo Carillo, however, said that before any conclusion or condemnation should be made, the matter will have to be referred first to the Commission on Human Rights to investigate the incident and to recommend for appropriate action based on the factual data.
Further, he moved to request the PROBE team “to exercise maximum tolerance” among the ambulant vendors and to provide them a proper site where they can display their own goods.
Councilor Nendell Hanz Abella also wanted the Office of the Ombudsman – Visayas to conduct a fact finding investigation as it involves city government personnel.
In a separate interview, Mayor Michael Rama said there is a need to look into the incident. He directed the City Legal Office to make a separate investigation and to find out who are the responsible employees.
“We will definitely act on it,” Rama said.
Following the city council’s intervention, acting PROBE chief Wendell Asenas withdrew the criminal case against the Tanguilan sisters. They are expected to be released today.— (FREEMAN)