Vendor jailed for “assaulting” City Hall team

CEBU, Philippines - A 30-year-old water vendor was arrested Saturday afternoon for allegedly attacking six members of Cebu City Hall’s Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification and Enhancement (Probe) on P. Burgos St., Barangay Santo Niño.

Arnold Bacalso, Clifford Inoc, Harvey de Gracia, Rolando Pacaña, Ramel Bacatan and Remegio Cobriano were doing clearing operations against ambulant vendors in the area when Lito Ferarrin allegedly intervened.

Ferrarin, along with other vendors, allegedly assaulted the Probe team members who confiscated their wares.

He, however, denied assaulting the Bacalso and his companions.

Ferarrin told The FREEMAN that several women, who were fellow vendors,  just called for him to help stop a fight that another vendor named Mario was allegedly involved in.

He said he immediately ran to the place where Mario was allegedly being beaten up but instead found the Probe team members confiscating the goods of his fellow vendors.

When a commotion started, Ferrarin said he immediately ran away from the scene but he stumbled and hit his chin on a stone, causing an injury.

“Ambot nganong gi-priso ko. Igo ra man unta ko mouwang sa away nga giingon nila nako. Ako ra intawon gisaligan sa akong asawa, manganakay ra ba to karong buwana. Looy kaayo intawon to (I do not know why I am imprisoned when I was only there to stop a fight.  I am the only one earning and my wife is due to give birth this month. She is so unfortunate),” he said.

He lamented his wife and their less-than-a-year-old son has no one to take care of them now that he is behind bars.

Because of his injury, the Probe team first brought Ferrarin to the Cebu City Medical Center for treatment before bringing him to the Waterfront Police Station for detention.

Criminal complaints would be filed against him tomorrow. — (FREEMAN)