Angry mob demands justice for vendor ‘killed’ by POSD men

BAGUIO CITY- Heavy rains did not stop the family and friends of a vendor to parade his dead body last week along the streets to City Hall here after he was allegedly mauled and killed by members of the Public Order and Safety Division (POSD).

They demanded a full-blown investigation and justice for Oscar Caranto, a sidewalk vendor, who was allegedly arrested by POSD men caught after throwing stones at a government truck used by the latter during an anti-peddling operation in Baguio on June 27.

Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan said there would be no cover-up in the said incident.

Katelyn Awingan, information officer of Baguio City Police Department said operatives were still probing the incident.

The City Council is set to conduct a separate investigation.

Awingan said no one has yet filed a case related to the incident.

According to witnesses, Caranto was arrested and brought to the POSD office where he was allegedly mauled.

He was reportedly later taken and confined at a hospital, but eventually died on July 4.

This created an angry mob who carried the lifeless body of Caranto and paraded it on city streets before bringing it inside the POSD office in city hall.

They demanded to talk to the POSD head to call for justice, but no one reportedly faced them so they banged and threw chairs with rage inside the said office then left.

According to POSD officer Boromeo Lumiid, they will investigate the case once a formal complaint is submitted to their office.

Fernando Moyaen, POSD chief said despite the incident, they will still conduct operations to drive out illegal vendors from city streets as it is their job to do so.

City officials urged them to do it with caution this time and not to be abusive.

Although there are relocation stalls for sidewalk vendors, they reportedly play hide-and-seek with authorities because of the high stall rental.

A monthly rental of P3, 900 for a one-meter stall is reportedly collected from vendors.

If unable to pay for two consecutive months, they would be removed from the stalls and products will be confiscated.

Vendors whose products were confiscated should pay P1,000 to be able to retrieve their goods.

POSD was formed to help the police prevent sidewalk vendors from plying their trade in the city.

But according to those even with legitimate businesses, men under the department have become abusive and have even used their positions to extort money.  – With reports from PaoEspirito