MMDA suspends enforcers who beat up buko vendor
MMDA OIC Jojo Garcia said their personnel have been threatened by violators in the past and congratulated them on practicing maximum tolerance. Pilipino Star Ngayon, file
MANILA, Philippines – The Metro Manila Development Authority on Monday ordered the preventive suspension of personnel involved in the mauling of a sidewalk coconut juice vendor during clearing operations last week.
Jojo Garcia, OIC of the agency, said three of the enforcers who assaulted the vendor, Romnick Relos, will be suspended for 15 days starting Monday.
He said these officers are the "main focal persons" who beat up Relos.
Garcia said they do not tolerate such actions by their employees.
Last Friday, a concerned citizen named Mhean Capaycapay posted photos of Relos bearing bruises after MMDA enforcers assaulted him. A part of the clearing operations was also caught on video and went viral.
Capaycapay sought help for Relos saying the MMDA personnel abused him and tried to tie him up.
"Para sa mga abusadong MMDA, oo, sabihin na nating bawal magtinda sa puwesto niya, pero bakit kailangan niyo siyang bugbugin? Willing naman siyang lumipat ng puwesto ng mapayapa, nakiusap siya sa inyo, pero ano?” the concerned citizen wrote.
Buko vendor speaks
Relos also faced members of the media on Monday to talk about what happened.
He said an MMDA truck arrived carrying the enforcers who asked him to move out of the sidewalk. He said he was just explaining when they started attacking him.
"Tapos noon nakiusap ako sa kanila, sabi ko 'aalis ako para di ako makasagabal.' Tapos nung nagpapaliwanag po ako, may tumulak ng kariton ko sa kalsada, tapos simula na nung pagkakagulo na po,” Relos said.
"'Yun na po yung may sumakapak sa akin, sumakal… Gusto po nila akong igapos sa truck kaso pumiglas po ako para di po ako matali po," he added.
Relos wants the MMDA officers fired to keep them from being a bad influence on their colleagues.
The MMDA, however, said their personnel were also affected by the incident.
Garcia maintained that selling on the sidewalks, especially along Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue, is illegal. He said the clearing operations are part of President Rodrigo Duterte's campaign to clear road obstructions.
"Of course, naiintindihan namin siyang naghahanapbuhay siya. Pero kung pagbibigyan natin lahat, paano naman ang mga kalsada natin?" Garcia said.
Garcia said that there have been instances where MMDA enforcers face threats from violators. He praised the MMDA personnel for practicing maximum tolerance during those times.
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