Two more charges filed vs Cebu City market administrator

CEBU, Philippines – Two more administrative charges were filed yesterday against Cebu City market administrator Raquel Arce following her crackdown of the illegal structures at the Taboan Public Market. 

One of the stall owners, Edgardo Briones, Sr., whom Arce evicted for violation of the city's market code, filed the administrative complaints for grave abuse of authority and conduct unbecoming of a public official before the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas.

Briones claimed he was not given due process of law when his stall, which he occupied for the past two decades, was demolished. Aside from Briones several other stall-holders were ejected for violation of the market ordinance because they were using their stalls as sleeping quarters.

Briones said that on September 9, 2010, Arce issued a notice quoting ordinance number 1406, section 17.5 of the Market Code which stipulates that it is not allowed to use any place with the public market as a sleeping quarter and such notice was sent out to 20 stallholders except him.

Briones said that the demolition of the structures was done illegally because based on the notice, stallholders were given seven days from receipt to vacate and his stall was demolished even if he did not receive any notice.

Arce refused to comment saying she will just face it as soon as she receives a summon from the anti-graft office.

A 15-year-old boy earlier filed a complaint for slight physical injuries against Arce before the anti-graft office. It was also Briones who assisted the complainant. (FREEMAN)