New SPD chief vows relentless campaign vs illegal vendors

The new director of the Southern Police District (SPD) yesterday vowed to implement a no-let up drive against illegal vendors in Baclaran, where sidewalks usually are transformed into one huge shopping area as Christmas approaches.

Chief Superintendent Wilfredo Garcia, newly appointed SPD director, said he will continue the project of his predecessor Chief Superintendent Prospero Noble Jr. who managed to drive off illegal vendors from Redemptorist Road in Baclaran, Parañaque City.

"We would like to remain vigilant because if we relax our guard they (vendors) might return, so I will block their attempt to occupy that area even if it means that we have to put more personnel just to make sure they do not return," Garcia said.

Apart from exerting maximum police visibility in the area, the new SPD chief said he will also try to take the diplomatic approach and be open to dialogues with leaders of the barangay and the Muslim community to solicit their cooperation in the campaign.

There have been several violent clashes between Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) sidewalk clearing teams and the vendors in the past. Two MMDA satellite offices were torched by still unidentified suspects.

This prompted Noble to hold meetings with vendors’ groups, urging them to rent stall spaces at nearby shopping centers.

At the same time, he also directed Parañaque police to beef up the patrol along Redemptorist Road to stop vendors from returning to the sidewalks.

Noble has been reassigned as deputy director for administration at the National Capital Region Police Office.

Garcia, who vacated his post as deputy director for operations of the Philippine National Police (PNP) after two years, appealed to the 2,770-strong SPD police force yesterday to "do our PART."

PART is an acronym for Performance, Attitude, Response and Teamwork.

"These are the values that would guide us because the people will judge the policy by the way that we respond," he said.

Meanwhile, the Central Police District (CPD) presented to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Edgar Aglipay yesterday four robbery suspects who allegedly shot and wounded a relative of a Malacañang official early this week in Quezon City.

During the turnover ceremonies at the Southern Police District (SPD) in Makati City, Superintendent Dante Narag of CPD-Station 9, presented suspects Ireneo Adresa, 29; Lilioso Doblois, 24; Alex Sabandal, 34; and Mario Molina, 42, all residents of Quezon City.

The victim, Analiza Bancairen, 31, a front desk supervisor of the Century Park Hotel and a resident of Barangay Sikatuna Village in Quezon City sustained a lone gunshot wound in the stomach. She is the youngest sister of Press Undersecretary Isabel de Leon.

De Leon said a team led by Narag captured the suspects at their safehouse in Pook Libis, Barangay UP Campus, Diliman last Sept. 10. Bancairen positively identified the suspects from a gallery of photos presented to her by police.

On the afternoon of Sept. 7, Bancairen was walking along Matipid street in Sikatuna Village when the suspects, armed with guns and knives, announced a holdup.

"She was willing to hand her bag over to the gang, but when the lights were suddenly turned on at a nearby house, one of the robbers panicked and shot her," said Undersecretary De Leon, who was present in yesterday’s turnover ceremony to show her support to the police force.

The police recovered as evidence a cellular phone, a caliber .22 revolver, a .38 revolver, a 12 gauge shotgun, a fan knife, a brown shoulder bag with a bullet hole, and a sachet of shabu.