City legal probing PROBE viral video

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu City Legal Office (CLO) has convened a committee composed of three lawyers who will investigate the viral video involving a Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification and Enhancement (PROBE) team enforcer and a female ambulant vendor.

Mayor Edgardo Labella has directed City Legal Officer Rey Gealon to conduct an inquiry on the incident that took place near the South Bus Terminal along Natalio Bacalso Avenue on Monday.

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

“Kay ang atong gibasehan sa imbestigasyon mao man ang nag-viral nga video, atong gipaabot ang tubag, pursuant to due process, sa maong hingtungdan nga PROBE enforcer. Kung naunsa ang ingon ug duna nama’y giluwatang pamahayag ang labaw sa PROBE nga si Madam Raquel Arce nga kadtong mao nga video di lang to maong version kay nahimutang nga kadto nga version, ang mabutang sa alanganin ang PROBE enforcer,” said Gealon in a virtual press conference yesterday.

“Now, atong tan-awon unsa kaha na nga version. Surely usa raman na ka insidente so pareha ra gyud tingali gihapon, apan naa sila’y anggulo nga nakita kung diin ang video gasugod sa pagsita pa sa PROBE enforcer ngadto sa maong ginang nga namaligya’g mansanas,” he added.

Labella earlier admitted that he has seen the video on Facebook, but only a portion and not the “whole picture.”

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

Arce had earlier said that this is the third incident involving the same female vendor.

“Paabota ang resolusyon niana sa atong pagpahigayon og imbestigasyon. Mag-una ang clarificatory conference sa higayon nga maabot na sa atong buhatan ang tubag sa maong PROBE enforcer,” said Gealon. — GAN (FREEMAN)