MANILA, Philippines — Quezon City residents along Panay Avenue at Barangay South Triangle called out authorities from the local government’s Task Force who were seen beating up a vendor for allegedly violating enhanced community quarantine protocols.
In a video shared by a concerned citizen, whose name was hidden for their security, showed some residents decrying the alleged “abuse of power” from officials of the Office of the Mayor’s Task Force Disiplina who were hitting a vendor at a sidewalk.
“Hindi dapat yan ganyan e. Hindi namin kinukunsinte. Lahat tayo we have all the rights… You are abusing your power. Hindi niyo dapat gulpihin,” one of the residents told the authorities.
(It shouldn’t be like that. We are not tolerating his actions. We all have rights. You are abusing your power. You should not hurt him.)
Around four men were hitting the vendor with a piece of wood as the victim begged, “Wala naman po akong ginagawa. (I am not doing anything.)”
The officials then carried the victim to transport the latter to a vehicle. Residents continued to lecture the authorities for hurting the victim.
“Hindi niyo pwedeng bugbugin. Mali, mali. You are abusing your power…. Wala kayong karapatang manakit,” one of the residents said.
(You can’t just hit him. It is wrong. You are abusing your power. You have no right to hurt him.)
In a television interview with TV Patrol, Lawyer Niño Casimiro, legal officer of Quezon City, said they started an initial investigation and gathered testimony of the local officials who responded in the incident.
Casimiro said the members of the Task Force were called upon by the barangay service point officers (BPSO) to reprimand the victim for not wearing a face mask on Monday afternoon.
“According sa Task Force Disiplina sila ay hiningan ng tulong ng BPSO para sitahin na isang tao dahil walang face mask. Magmula dun hindi nag-co-cooperate kaya kinakailangang gumamit ng reasonable force,” Casimiro said.
(According to Task Force Disiplina, they were asked by the BPSO to warn the victim who is not wearing a face mask. After that, the victim was not cooperating so the members had to use reasonable force.)