Police deny demolishing food cart of minor vendor

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Police Office Director Senior Supt. Royina Garma denied that the police are involved in the demolition of a food cart owned by a minor street vendor in front of a mall in Barangay Pahina Central Sunday morning.

In a post that went viral, a photo shows a vendor picking up his food products in the middle of a busy road but there was no police officer present.

The caption says that a police officer reprimanded the vendor and then threw his products on the street.

Garma, in a press statement yesterday, clarified that police officers are not mandated to demolish stalls to clear the city’s busy roads.

“I personally conducted an investigation sa area and nagconduct po ng clearing operation is ang LGU. Wala pong police doon and so yung mga nagtapon na paninda, o ano mang post na yun, di po yun totoo,”she said.

Garma added that the police are not even allowed to help a demolition team.

Police officers are only allowed to provide security during a demolition and are required to wear complete uniform.

“We have been supporting yung clearing operation ng PROBE and my strict instruction, una ang role ng police is to make sure na yung enforcement ng ordinance will be smooth, orderly and peaceful,” Garma said.

The Prevention Restoration Order Beautification Enhancement (PROBE) are the ones mandated by the local government of Cebu City to demolish and to clear the road from obstruction.

On the other hand, Chief Inspector John Kareen Escober, Carbon Police station chief, also clarified that he did not deploy any personnel in the area to do the demolition.

“Deny mi ana. Wala mi ingun ana nga operation. Dapat responsable ang nagpost ana. I-check unta ang details usa niya gi-post,” Escober told THE FREEMAN in a phone interview.

Garma expressed her dismay on the post and they are hoping for a public apology from the one who posted it.

“Sad to say, nasabi nga mga police na. The damage has been done. Next time, let us be responsible before magpost kasi di po lahat ng nagpapatupad ng ordinansa ng syudad at batas ay police. Meron ding ibang agencies na mandated also to implement mga specific na balaod,” she added. (FREEMAN)