Due to ‘maltreatement’ of vendor: PROBE men ordered to undergo retraining

CEBU, Philippines — Four Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification, Enhancement (PROBE) personnel, who were accused of maltreating a sidewalk vendor, were directed to undergo a comprehensive briefing on apprehension guidelines.

The Cebu City Legal Office (CLO), in its recommendation to Mayor Edgardo Labella, said the personnel must undergo an orientation on proper apprehension of erring vendors.

“These four PROBE personnel must undergo a comprehensive briefing on supposed guidelines on apprehension against violators,” it said.

On November 22, 2019, a netizen posted online a video of four PROBE team members, who confiscated a basket full of oranges that was sold by Roy Manigos along A. Soriano Street.

The video went viral on social media, generating around two million views.

Cebu City Legal Office created a three-lawyer investigation team to look into the incident and determine if there was a need to impose sanctions on PROBE team members.

Lawyer Rey Gealon, Cebu City Legal Office chief, said his office conducted an investigation even though Manigos opted not to file a formal complaint.

“The concerned vendor did not lodge a formal complaint before this office. This was the reason why our investigation was merely limited on available casual information,” he said.

As part of the investigation, PROBE was asked to submit an incident report to CLO. It was submitted on December 19, 2019.

PROBE head Raquel Arce earlier said the fruit vendor was a recidivist.

Manigos had been apprehended five times already in different areas—along Carbon, Manalili and Sto. Niño and twice near a mall on Colon Street.

Arce said Manigos continued to defy the PROBE warnings, which resulted in the confrontation between the vendor and government workers.

But Gealon said the behavior showed by the personnel in confiscating a basket full of oranges from Manigos should not be tolerated.

Gealon said PROBE personnel should observe the rules of engagement in the conduct of clearing operations.

The PROBE members, he said, should also abide by the Code of Conduct.

“As action officers in government, they are directed to act with professionalism, intelligence, excellence and skill pursuant to Section 4(b) of Republic Act 6713 or The Code of Conduct,” he said.  KQD (FREEMAN)