Iloilo City gov’t displaces ambulant vendors, slammed as anti-poor, harassing

Ambulant vendors along Fuentes St. in Iloilo City were displaced on April 10, following a clearing operation that was carried out by the Local Economic Enterprise Office (LEEO) and the Police, raising questions on state harassment and the policy’s anti-poor enforcement.

Vegetable vendor Jerry Brendiya expressed his anger and frustration towards the Iloilo City government for forcibly taking his belongings during the operation, including his driver’s license, motorcycle keys, and a P4K cash, all of which were inside his bag.

“Ngaa amo gid to (bag) ang gin-interesan niya ya, kun indi siya abno, kun indi siya kawatan. Ginhambalan ko, ‘Ngaa ginakwa mo bag ko?’ Ginhakbot niya kag dumalagan. Pati bag ko kwaon niya, wala siya kwarta haw?” Brendiya said.

(Why was he interested in that (bag) specifically if he’s not stupid, if he’s not a thief. I told him, ‘Why are you taking my bag?’ He snatched it and ran. He even took my bag—doesn’t he have any money?)

Having known the infamous scheme of state forces to plant illegal drugs on innocent people’s belongings, Brendiya fears the same could happen to him because of the incident.

“Budlay bala, basi butangan to nila shabu bala, basi pagbalik bala sa akon may shabu na,” he worried.

(It’s hard, what if they plant shabu? Maybe when they give it back, there’s shabu in it already.)

Although the operation has not led to Brendiya’s fear, it reflects the distrust toward law enforcement among the vulnerable.

Another video circulating online shows a man confronting a student vendor over an alleged road obstruction violation.

“Te, ano ang ibaligya ko, Sir, kay sini nga semana midterm ko na? Wala gani ko inugbayad sa midterm ko, kwaon niyo pa baligya ko?” the student said while crying.

(Sir, what am I supposed to sell this week when my midterm exams are already near? I don’t even have money to pay for my midterms, and you’re still taking away what I’m selling?)

The officer responded that such is the system and that the student should have complied, “Te, kay amo na ang sistema naton,” he said.

(Well, because that’s our system.)

Kadamay – Panay, a political organization of urban poor, said that the operation was ‘nothing less than harassment and intimidation of poor vendors’, citing how the operation led to the demolition of livelihood.

“At a time when the oil price hike has already deepened the economic crisis, this violent crackdown further worsens the suffering of marginalized vendors. Instead of compassion and dialogue, the LEEO chose force and fear, aggravating the plight of those most vulnerable,” the organization stated.

They demand accountability for the harassment and confiscation of goods, decent and secure place for ambulant vendors to legally conduct their businesses, and a dialogue with the city mayor.

A blogger on Facebook named Pitik Bulag also expressed his sentiments towards the incident, writing a letter addressed to the Iloilo City Government.

“We respectfully encourage the City Government to continue exploring sustainable solutions that will allow ambulant vendors to work legally and safely without losing their source of income,” they stated.

Despite public turmoil and criticism, Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu stayed firm with the strict enforcement of the local ordinance, contrary to her claim of recognizing the daily struggles of ambulant vendors.

“We will enforce the law firmly, but we will do so with fairness. May disiplina kita, may order, kag may paghangup, pero may limitasyon man kita,” Treñas-Chu said.

She added that the city already had a system to implement designated “market days” across Iloilo City’s major markets, where vendors can sell along the streets.

“While ginabuligan naton ang mga bolantero nga makabaligya adlaw-adlaw, ginabuligan man naton ang mga vendors nga yara naka-pwesto sa sulod sang mga redeveloped markets nga indi mapatay ang ila negosyo,” the mayor said.

In response to the harassment allegations, LEEO also clarified in a statement on April 11, that all goods seized were accounted for and returned to the owners.

As of writing, another round of clearing operations is being conducted by police officers, this time with increased personnel.