‘Harassed’ vendors sue mayor, cop
Complaints have been filed against Minglanilla Mayor Elanito Peña and a police officer over allegations of abuse on market vendors.
Members of the Minglanilla Public Market Multi-Purpose Cooperative, composed of at least 100 ambulant vendors and occupants of the new market, lodged the complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas and the Regional Trial Court in Talisay City Wednesday afternoon.
MPMMC president Sherbie De los Reyes filed a case against Peña before the Ombudsman for alleged violation of Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act).
Renan Codero Labrado and Bodevilla Aranas also filed two counts of maltreatment; arbitrary detention; and grave misconduct/grave abuse of authority against Police Officer 3 Eduardo Librando before the anti-graft office.
MPMMC, through its legal counsel Rex Fernandez, also filed a civil petition for injunction with application for temporary restraining order and writ of preliminary injunction and damages against the local government unit of Minglanilla before the RTC.
The group has raised around P30,000 in legal assistance funds which was contributed by the vendors themselves, priests and nuns from different congregations.
During their filing of the cases on Wednesday, the vendors also staged a silent protest.
De Los Reyes told The FREEMAN they resorted to legal means since they can no longer bear the alleged harassment done by those in power. He claimed almost all of them are harassed almost everyday.
“Grabe na ang harassment. Naabot na mi sa korte hoping malantaw ang among katungod without any bias,” he said.
He said they cannot even seek for police assistance to resolve the situation since even the police officers were allegedly “used” by local government officials.
“Ingon ana sila kapowerful ug ka-kampante. Gamiton ang pulis, makadiktar sa pulis,” he said.
Ever since the vendors were told to move to the new town market in Barangay Poblacion Ward 2 and to stop selling on sidewalks, it has been a series of aggression in the town.
De los Reyes admitted it is wrong to sell on the sidewalk but he cited bleak income in their refusal to transfer to the new market and in selling their wares back in the old market during nighttime.
He also said the mayor has not given any concrete ways to sustain the needs of the vendors and their families.
Meanwhile, De Los Reyes clarified their recent action was not politically motivated. However, he said they would support an aspiring candidate who would assure them of restoring the old market.