6 Baguio workers hurt in skirmish with vendors

BAGUIO CITY — At least six city government employees, together with a policeman and a local cable television reporter, were hurt when sidewalk vendors clashed with members of the anti-peddling task force Thursday afternoon.

Emmanuel Reyes, chief of the public order and safety division under the city mayor’s office, said six of his men sustained injuries when defiant migrant vendors fought it out with the task force along Lakandula street.

He said George Addawe, who survived an attack on Session Road several months ago, was among those hurt. Addawe heads the anti-peddling task force.

Also injured were SPO1 Erwin Flores, who was attacked as he fired a warning shot in the air, and cable TV reporter Darryl Gassilang, whose video camera was damaged.

Reyes said the illegal vendors had apparently prepared for the task force’s operation last Thursday afternoon so that when 10 of its men, along with four policemen, arrived, the group had overpowered them.

There are at least 5,000 migrant vendors in the city, mostly peddling pirated DVDs and VCDs.