Domogan: No ‘cover-up on slay of vendor’ by POSD men

By Dexter A. See and Paul Rillorta

BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio Domogan said there will be no cover-up in the killing of an ambulant vendor here allegedly by members of the city’s Public Order Safety Division.  

Domogan said he directed the Baguio City Police Office and the POSD to complete investigation on the death of Oscar Caranto, 52 of Basista, Pangasinan allegedly in the hands of POSD men.

He said investigation should be done so future action of the city government will evolve around what really transpired that led to the vendor’s death.

Caranto was allegedly mauled June 24 at the POSD office at the public market then later at the main police station by POSD men.

He died June 27 at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center

 “We will not cover up the involvement of the POSD personnel in the alleged mauling of the ambulant vendor that resulted to his death but we must first await the outcome of the on-going investigation of the incident before we come out with conclusions,” Domogan said.

This, as he said the controversy will not affect anti-peddling campaign of local government to clear sidewalks, parks and public market from illegal vendors that constrict narrow streets of the central business district.

Domogan ordered the members of the city’s anti-peddling team to intensify anti-peddling operations around the city’s central business district since no vending is allowed along sidewalks, streets and even in the city public market pursuant to the zero vending policy of the Baguio-Boracay Re-development Task Force.

The city mayor said it is very important for all sectors await outcome of the investigation because there are important considerations which must be taken into account that will shed light on what really caused the death of Caranto.

He said the unfortunate incident was an isolated case and will not significantly affect the city’s anti-peddling operations considering the people of Baguio and visitors have appreciated the gains of such operations in reducing overcrowding at the public market and the occurrence of pickpocket incidents the past months.

He declined the recommendation of some city officials to adopt an “open market policy” to allow ambulant vendors to have their own source of income, saying that the city government was able to rid the city’s streets and markets with ambulant vendors, thus, there is no room for the local government to bring back chaos on city streets.

Domogan urged ambulant vendors to strictly adhere to the city’s zero vending policy along major roads, sidewalks and even in parks so they will not be apprehended by POSD personnel.

He said most of the time, it is the vendors that attack the anti-peddling enforcers that usually result to violent incidents.

The implementation of the anti-peddling drive in the city’s public market netted P104,000.00 in fines from ambulant vendors here in a month.

The period covered June 1 to 30 this year. Ambulant vendors caught violating the city’s anti-peddling ordinance were apprehended with their respective goods confiscated by members of the Public Order and Safety Division.

Confiscated goods are released after payment of P1,000.00 fine to the City Treasury Office while unclaimed goods are given to the Department of Social Welfare and Development and other charitable institutions for disposal.

Meantime, a dialogue between POSD personnel and officials and members of the different market vendors organizations was conducted July 11 headed by the mayor and market trade and commerce chair councilor Elaine Sembrano.

Vendors cried foul over the system of apprehension being employed by some POSD personnel wherein no warning is done before apprehension.

Domogan said, “This could be avoided if only market vendors abide by the regulation that there would be strictly no selling in prohibited areas such as streets and roads and advised them to police their own ranks.”

“The POSD is there to implement the ordinance, if you are caught blatantly disobeying the law then there would be a problem,” he said. 

The mayor also ordered the POSD men to observe maximum tolerance in dealing with ambulant vendors and to inventory in detail goods which are being confiscated to avoid complications.

“This ordinance was never intended to stop vendors from doing their business, we want you to practice your livelihood in a legal way that is why we have designated areas where you can ply your trade,” Domogan said.