Drive vs street vendors turns deadly in Las Piñas

A 60-year-old employee of the Las Piñas city government was knifed dead on Wednesday by one of the street vendors whose carts and stalls had been ordered removed for obstructing traffic.

The police said Benjamin dela Cruz, 60, was hacked and stabbed several times by 30-year-old Jenie Talisic, a fruit and vegetable vendor, near Philippine Merchant Marine School on Valley Road, Barangay Talon Uno.

Senior Insp. Romeo Britanico, investigation section chief of Las Piñas police, said Dela Cruz was part of the team sent by the city’s traffic department to conduct a sidewalk- clearing operation in the area on Wednesday morning.

A heated argument ensued when Dela Cruz told Talisic to take his cart somewhere else. Talisic, who was then peeling a pineapple with a large knife, stabbed and hacked Dela Cruz in the face and body.

Talisic then fled on foot toward Alabang-Zapote Road, where he was eventually arrested by the police.

Quoting Talisic, Britanico said the vendor just snapped because he felt being “singled out” and “bullied” by Dela Cruz out of the many vendors near the school.

Talisic was submitted to inquest proceedings on Thursday on charges of murder. —Dexter Cabalza