City to resume demolishing tanod outposts at Carbon
Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña has ordered the Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification, Enhancement (PROBE) team to resume the demolition of the tanod outposts at the Carbon Public Market in Barangay Ermita.
This after Ermita Captain Felicisimo “Imok” Rupita failed to show up in a meeting with Mayor Tomas Osmeña yesterday where he could have explained the presence of the outposts he allegedly built illegally.
“Demolition will push through because tanods are part of the problem. They are not the solution. Ayaw lang kalimti that under Imok Rupinta, drug lord Yawa prospered and became the biggest drug lord in Central Visayas,” Osmeña said.
He was referring to the slain drug personality Rowen “Yawa” Secretaria who died last year.
The mayor said he will not allow Ermita’s tanods to position themselves as if they have authority.
Rupinta said he did not go to Osmeña’s office for fear that he would not be entertained because he did not get a confirmation of his appointment.
He said he will not challenge Osmeña's decision to demolish the outposts.
“Wala koy mabuhat kon ilang padayonon ang demolition. Siya man ang mayor. Inig human nila'g demolish sa outpost, magbutang mi og lamesa ug lingkoranan para's among tanod,” he said.
But Osmeña said he would not allow the tanods to use tables and chairs either, if they will occupy the same spots where the outposts used to stand.
“I will not allow the tanods to operate there. Period. The tables and chairs can remain, not the tanods. So, if the tanods will use the tables and chairs, I will remove the tables and chairs,” the mayor said.
The scenario does not sit well with Rupinta.
“Bahala'g pirmi nila gubaon among lamesa ug lingkuranan, magpalit gihapon ko og among ibutang didto kay makiha man pod ko kon akong i-abandon akong trabaho,” he said.
He brushed off Osmeña's comment that the tanod outposts having suppressed criminality is but propaganda.
“Among pangutana, unsa may sala sa among outpost nga gub-on man? Naka ali ba sa merkado? Wala. Nakasamok bas mga tindera? Wala. Nakatabang sa pagdakop snatchers? Nakatabang,” he said.
“Inig human sa demolition, molingkod gihapon atong mga tanod. magbutang og lingkuranan ug lamesa kon ilang kuhaon, palit gihapon. kon kuhaon gihapon, palit gihapon among butangon,” he said.
Last week, members of PROBE started dismantling the outposts because they was reportedly built illegally.
Out of the six outposts, PROBE demolished one in Zone IX. According to PROBE, there are other outposts located at the Freedom Park (Zone III), Freedom Park (Zone VI), Escario Street (Zone VII), Quezon Boulevard (Zone V), Quezon Boulevard (Zone VIII), and Unit III Carbon Market (Zone IV).
PROBE head Susan Berido said the team will resume demolition today with the presence of police officers.