MANILA, Philippines—Three Chinese vendors, including an elderly, were charged with frustrated homicide and violence against women before the city prosecutor’s office after they allegedly beat up a couple in an argument over the placement of their goods on their neighboring stalls inside a mall in Manila.
Superintendent Ferdinand Quirante, commander of the Manila Police District (MPD) Meisic station 11, identified the three suspects as Wu Feng Nong, 61; Zhang Bing Jie, 18; and Wu Yung Xie, 20, all garment vendors at the 168 Mall, of Juan Luna Street in Tondo.
Quirante said that the three were arrested on the complaint of couple and garment vendors Michael and Vina Lim, of CM Recto Avenue in Tondo and were charged with violation of Republic Act 9262 or the 2004 law against violence on women and children, and frustrated homicide.
The Lim couple, the station commander told the Philippine Daily Inquirer, sustained bruises, scratches and contusions on the head and body from the assault and were treated at the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center.
Quirante revealed that the incident started at around 2:30 pm on Monday, inside the 168 Mall along Sta. Elena Street in Binondo.
Vina was tending to her stall when she noticed that the Chinese vendors’ goods were covering up her wares, concealing them from customers’ view.
The female vendor decided to ask the owners of the neighboring stall to move their goods but the Chinese vendors refused and allegedly rebuked her for her request. A heated argument ensued where one of the three Chinese vendors allegedly grabbed Vina by her hair and allegedly hit her in the stomach.
Vina’s husband, Michael, saw what was happening and immediately intervened. However, one of the three Chinese men grabbed hold of him and allegedly started slamming his head against the concrete while uttering repeatedly in their language, “I will kill you.”
Quirante said that responding members of the MPD station 11 pacified the groups and arrested the three Chinese. They immediately brought the wounded couple to the nearest hospital for treatment after seeing blood oozing out of Michael’s ears and nose.
The three Chinese vendors remain detained at the MPD station 11 holding cell pending their transfer to the Manila City Jail.