Court rejects TRO against market fencing

Construction of the fences around the Taboan Public Market in Cebu City will continue despite opposition from vendors.

Regional Trial Court Judge Sylvia Aguirre-Paderanga of Branch 16 yesterday denied the petition for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) filed by vendors after they failed to identify the respondents.

Cebu City Administrator Jose Marie Poblete told the court that he and market administrator Raquel Arce couldn’t stop the fencing of the Taboan Public Market.

Poblete said only the Cebu City Engineering’s Office can halt the construction of a fence around the market.

The vendors through their lawyer Salvador Solima filed a case against Poblete and Arce for fencing the market.

“Revenues are affected. The market has been fenced. The vendors have been losing money,” Solima said.

But Poblete said the construction of the fence was intended to improve the market.

“The Taboan Public Market is a tourist spot. It’s now deteriorating, it’s not something we are proud of,” he said. Poblete said they also wanted to secure the market.

“We are asking a little bit of sacrifice. Eventually, this will benefit the vendors. I’m asking the complainants to please bare with us. This is for you, not for the city government. No pain, no gain,” he said. Poblete intends to file a motion to dismiss the main case.

Solima said they will file an amended complaint to include Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and other respondents responsible for fencing the Taboan public market. Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol