MANILA, Philippines — After Manila Mayor Isko Moreno stepped on a pile of human waste on Wednesday while inspecting the Bonifacio Monument, he lost his cool.
“There’s poop all over the monument. It’s close to the office of the mayor and there’s shit everywhere,” Moreno said.
He later ordered the relief of Lt. Rohwel Robles, the head of the Manila Police District’s (MPD) Lawton police community precinct, which has jurisdiction over the area.
Moreno was conducting an inspection when he stopped by the shrine dedicated to national hero Andres Bonifacio, located just a few meters away from city hall where he holds office.
After seeing numerous piles of human waste around the monument, he expressed dismay over its sorry state.
“Here, I accidentally stepped on some. They say it’s lucky,” Moreno said in jest.
Clearing operations ordered
Saying that the shrine had been turned into the “biggest toilet,” he ordered MPD chief, Brig. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr., to clear the area behind it of vendors and other obstructions.
“Isn’t this under the Lawton police community precinct? The [commander] is relieved. Tell General Danao to relieve the precinct commander,” Moreno said on Facebook Live.
Netizens who were watching the livestream commented that vagrants and solvent boys staying in the area were responsible for the filth around the monument.
This was the second time that Moreno had ordered the relief of police officials due to dissatisfaction over their performance.
On Monday, nine members of the city police force, including the head of the Meisic police station, were fired for allegedly extorting money from illegal vendors.
Since assuming office, Moreno has been ridding the city’s streets of illegal vendors, particularly in the shopping district of Divisoria which was under the relieved police officers’ jurisdiction.
He stressed that he was serious about sustaining street clearing operations.