3 Chinese vendors face charges for beating up couple

Three Chinese vendors, including a sexagenarian, have been charged with frustrated homicide and violence against women after they were accused of beating up a couple following an argument over the placement of their goods inside a mall in Manila.

Manila Police District (MPD) Station 11 commander Supt. Ferdinand Quirante identified the three as Wu Feng Nong, 61; Zhang Bing Jie, 18; and Wu Yung Xie, 20; all garment vendors at 168 Mall on Juan Luna Street in Tondo.

Quirante said the three were arrested after their fellow vendors, Michael and Vina Lim, charged them with violating Republic Act 9262 or the Anti-Violence against Women and Children Act of 2004 and frustrated homicide.

The Lims, the station commander told the Inquirer, were treated for bruises, scratches and bumps on the head and body at Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center.

Quirante said the couple were ganged up upon by the three at around 2:30 p.m. inside the mall.

Vina was tending to her stall when she noticed that the goods of the Chinese vendors, who were manning the stall beside hers, were covering up her wares and concealing them from the view of customers.

She said she asked them to move their goods but the Chinese vendors refused and allegedly rebuked her. She added that a heated argument ensued in which one of the three Chinese vendors grabbed her by the hair and then hit her in the stomach.

When Vina’s husband, Michael, saw what was happening, he tried to defend her but one of the three Chinese grabbed him and then slammed his head against the floor while allegedly muttering, “I will kill you,” in Chinese, Michael told the police.