Vicencio’s supporters to be arrested if they hold illegal protest

The Northern Police District is poised to arrest supporters of suspended Malabon City Mayor Amado Vicencio once they hold today an illegal protest action aimed at preventing Vice Mayor Mark Allan Yambao from assuming his post as acting city mayor.

Superintendent Isias Antonio, NPD-Police Community Relations chief, said that the District Mobile Force, expert in crowd dispersal, has enough standby force and is always ready for action. "A rally without a mayor’s permit is illegal and if protesters push through with their plans then they could be arrested. The DMF is always ready," Antonio said.

Loyal followers of Vicencio lifted their five-day human barricade in front of the city hall Friday which was intended to thwart the Department of the Interior and Local Government men from serving the mayor’s suspension order at the city hall. But they vowed to return today and continue the fight.

The DILG officials led by Metro Manila director Raffy Benaldo, accompanied by NPD director Chief Superintendent Marcelino Franco Jr., served Thursday afternoon Vicencio’s 60-day preventive suspension order at the mayor’s residence in Araneta Village, Bgy. Potrero, Malabon.

The DILG men posted the order at the gate of Vicencio’s residence as nobody was there to receive it in the mayor’s behalf.

That night, Yambao was also sworn in as Malabon’s acting mayor.

Vicencio, however, said that the DILG’s action was illegal. He said he would continue to exhaust all remedies to keep himself from being displaced from his post.

Additionally, traders affected by the five-day impasse urged yesterday Vicencio’s supporters to just let the court decide the fate of their leader.

"Bakit di na lang nila hayaan na korte ang mag-decide (Why don’t they let the court decide the issue)," a trader said.

When Vicencio’s supporters sealed off the streets leading to the city hall last Monday, several business establishments closed shops.