2 cops ordered relieved over vendors

A station commander of the Western Police District (WPD) and one of his subordinates were ordered relieved for their apparent failure to stop proliferation of illegal vendors in the streets in Divisoria and Binondo.

Relieved were Superintendent Bernardo Diaz, chief the Station 11 (Binondo), and Inspector Rolando Basmayor, chief of the Station 11-Juan Luna Police Community Precinct (PCP).

The relief came shortly after Manila Mayor Lito Atienza conducted an inspection of the area yesterday morning. The mayor went there following complaints from motorists and PUJ drivers that streets leading to Divisoria are always clogged with vendors.

Atienza reportedly saw for himself the vendors lined up along Juan Luna street.

It has been a policy of the city government not to allow vendors from using the streets so as to ensure free flow of traffic and trade in busy Divisoria.

"That is a prohibited area and we have to comply with the policy," said WPD director Chief Superintendent Pedro Bulaong, Diaz’s immediate superior.

Bulaong tapped Superintendent Segundo Duran to replace Diaz.The latter was appointed as chief of Station 11 about two weeks ago and had been given specific instructions to keep Juan Luna street free of vendors. – Cecille Suerte Felipe