Ermita demolition, vendors give council proof of PROBE abuse

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council has requested the Commission on Human Rights and the Department  of  Interior  and  Local  Government-7 to investigate the alleged harassment during the demolition in Sitio El Filibusterismo in Barangay Ermita last March 3.

This after the Warwick- Barracks Stall Owners and Livelihood Association Incorporated (WABSOALAI) presented a video that can reportedly prove that the demolition was “irregular and inhuman”.

The video was not shown during the council session, but was forwarded to the committee on housing headed by Councilor Alvin Dizon.

WABSOALAI President Perla Eraya said the vi-deo shows how heartless the Cebu City Prevention, Restoration, Order, Enhancement and Beautification (PROBE) team and the responding policemen were because they allegedly assaulted children as young as 12 years old.

The victims also submitted their medico-legal reports to the Council.

“Gilamparos ang mga bata, gibunalan og armalite ug gituok sa taga PROBE. Pati mga totoy sa mga babaye gisiko. Ingon sila ka way tamas ug ka way kasing-kasing,” Eraya said.

The vendors organization is confident that the footage would show who have violated the law.

“The police and SWAT forcers were at the frontline, backstaging the demolition crew as if they were hired as an offensive crew in a war against the outlaws. The video would really tell who commenced the violence. It is evident that the violence was premeditated since police forces purposely took off their badges to clothe and shadow their identities,” WABSOALAI’s letter reads.

Denial

PROBE head Raquel Arce also claimed harassment.

“Kami maoy gi-harass. Kami ang gibato sa mga vendors. Very unruly sila towards the PROBE team nga nagsunod lamang sa mandato sa mayor,” she said.

Arce said they would also present photos to prove the vendors’ behavior during the operation.

“Safety naman gyod sa mga tawo ang nakasalalay. Dapat they should abide whatever laws and policies sa city para wala’y samok,” she said.

During the demolition, seven men were captured and imprisoned for allegedly blocking the demolition team and assaulting policemen.

One member of the Special Weapons and Tactics Team was wounded in the head during the commotion.

Ermita Barangay Captain Felicisimo “Imok” Rupinta earlier said his residents went rowdy and formed a human chain as soon as the PROBE team arrived.

Dizon said the residents complained that the “scores of injured including minor children and number of dissents who were put to jail in defense of their rights and properties.”

He said the allegation was very “alarming”.

“Demolitions of informal settlers or nuisance per se or nuisance per accidents must be executed in the manner provided by the law to ensure that it does not violate the rights of  the vendors and residents concerned,” he said.

In a separate development, over 100 vendors temporarily staying at the Viaduct (near the entrance of the South Road Properties) were relocated to Block 27 at North Reclamation Area (NRA) over the weekend. 

But the vendors who were displaced by the recent fire in Barangay Ermita asked the Council to allow them to return to Warwick- Barracks so they can resume selling goods.

Eraya complained that NRA is too far from their actual area of business. “Layo gyod kaayo ug kalas og plite,” she said.

The City Government has been providing the residents vehicles plying back and forth from NRA to downtown areas.

“Dili enough kay permi puno ug dugay kaayo mo biyahe,” she said.

“We hope that we can go back in Warwick-Barracks ASAP. We are now so hungry and thirsty so we need to have an income for our daily needs,” Eraya’s letter to the Council reads. —  (FREEMAN)