Anti-peddling men trade complaints against ‘reporter’

By Isagani S. Liporada

BAGUIO CITY – Members of the local government’s Anti-Illegal Vending Task Force criminally charged a “mediaman” for “resistance and disobedience to persons in authority or the agents of such persons.”

This, on top of violating Ordinance 68-1986 or the anti-illegal vending ordinance.

SPO1 Reynaldo Badua, Police Auxiliary Honorato Gallegos, and PA Julius Albano in a Feb. 21 complaint claimed one Peter Valencia interfered and disobeyed lawful orders during an easement clearing drive at the city market.

Mayor Mauricio Domogan earlier ordered an investigation of the three members of the anti-peddling team on charges of Velencia “for illegal arrest and detention, harassment, robbery and intimidation.”

This, after Valencia filed a complaint on the incident with National Bureau of Investigation claiming the episode demeaned and humiliated him personally and his status as a member of the media.

He claimed the three accosted him in front of Cuevas Bakery along 1st Kayang St. here about 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 21. They were reportedly with around 10-members of the AIVTF who were confiscating goods of vendors in the area when they cuffed him.

Valencia said he was about to take a photograph of Gallegos who was about to load confiscated pots full of cooked food at the back of a police mobile when the latter tried to grab the former’s camera.

At the police station, Gallegos reportedly forced Valencia inside a detention cell and locked him inside for two hours.

But according to records filed with the City Prosecutor’s Office, Valencia apparently interfered with AIVTF operations to save goods allegedly belonging to him and maintained by a female attendant.

In their joint complaint, the law enforcers claimed it was Valencia who arrogantly demanded the goods be released claiming he was member of a local media outfit.

Badua said he recalled Velencia saying, “In case you’ve forgotten, allow me to remind you I am a member of the local media.”

When Badua tried to explain AIVTF was merely implementing orders pursuant to Ordinance 68-98, Velencia allegedly pushed him and hurled humiliating invectives instead.

The case, based on the complaint by the AIVTF members, has been elevated to Municipal Trial Court Branch I.