Labella: Probe vendor ‘harassment’

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella has directed City Legal Officer Rey Gealon to investigate the recent incident involving Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification and Enhancement (PROBE) team personnel and a female ambulant vendor near the South Bus Terminal along Natalio Bacalso Avenue.

A video of a PROBE worker apprehending a vendor made rounds on social media with some netizens saying that the former was seemingly harassing her.

"Ako, nakakita sad ko sa Facebook pero ang akong nakita is only a portion. Ato gyud tan-awon ang whole picture," said Labella.

This is why Labella tasked Gealon to conduct an inquiry and hear the side of both the PROBE elements and the vendor involved in the incident.

Raquel Arce, PROBE team head, said this is the third incident involving the same female vendor.

"First, akong iklaro nga ang kana nga vendor, Soledad Cordova, dili lang ni kay primero rani niya nga sukol or pagwa'y respeto sa atoang operatives. Ikatulo na ni nga incident, unya in all incidents naka-blotter gyud na siya, including ang kagahapon nga incident," said Arce.

"Ang kagahapon, gistoryahan na siya og tarong. Gibadlong siya nga wala pa man gyu'y order ang DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government). Giingnan man gud na sila," she added.

Arce said ambulant vending is not allowed since the start of the quarantine period per the DILG instruction.

"Hinaot nga kani nga interview karon, nadungog ninyo ang among habig. Hinaot unta nga makahuna-huna sad mo. Wala to giyabo, wala to mayabo sa atong tawo. Intentional nga giyabo ang iyang tinda to earn sympathy sa mga nagtan-aw. Para makakuha sila'g video unya mabutang sa bad light ang atoang opisina and, of course, mabutang sa bad light ang administrasyon ni Mayor Labella," said Arce.

She said everything that happened in the video was planned.

"Ang atoa is ang pagsabot ba... Karong panahona, wala'y wa magsakripisyo, wala'y wa mag-antos. Kitang tanan nag-antos," said Arce.

Arce said the city government has just provided rice assistance last week to the affected vendors.

"Not only vendors ang apektado, ang mga drivers, pulos sila apektado. Nganong nakaantos man sila? Nganong wa man sila moresist? Wa man sila mopakita og kanang drama? Wa man sila magdrama sa sidewalk para lang to have the attention sa publiko," said Arce.

Last August, Labella met with the vendors to ask for a proposal on how they can sell again in the sidewalks without violating the health protocols.

Probe ‘ready’

Arce said following the health protocols is the main thing being considered now due to COVID-19.

"I'm not sure kung nakasubmit ba siya, pero sa pagkakaron, ang ilahang proposal giforward sa City Hall ngadto sa DILG kung unsa ang recommendation sa DILG... Ang sitwasyon karon is strictly stay at home. Kung mugawas ka you must wear your Qpass. Ang Qpass sad dili kay gusto lang ka magsuroy-suroy, pwede ka. Even vending is not allowed using a qpass," said Arce.

"Unsaon mana ang iyang gibuhat kung dili namo siya i-enforce og unsa ang balaod pero gani sa hitabo kagahapon, pwede gani to namo siya maaresto on the violation nga naa siya loittering around nga wa gani siya kapakita namo og quarantine pass during that time. Ang iyaha pa gyu'ng face mask during sa hitabo, gisul-ob niya below saiyahang chin, so with health protocol, nakaviolate na siya daan," she added.

Arce said they have already prepared an incident report and will consult the City Legal Office regarding what happened as "we are ready for legal battle."

"Akong i-refer na sa atoang City Legal. Og sailaha pud tan-aw, adunay harassment on the part sa atoang operatives, I challenge you to file a case. Kung saimong tan-aw, gilangkatan ka saimohang katungod, karon makita gyud, wala'y bias, makita og kinsa'y nangabuso. Ang ato bang tawo maoy nangabuso or siya ba nga vendor mao'y nangabuso," said Arce. — JMD (FREEMAN)