20 illegal vendors arrested

Four days after the policeman in charge of clearing operations against illegal sidewalk vendors was killed in an ambush, 20 people were rounded up for peddling their wares at an overpass on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.

The vendors were arrested on Monday for selling their merchandise without a permit and for blocking the path of pedestrians at the Litex overpass.

The operation conducted by the Quezon City Police District’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit and the District Public Safety Batallion came four days after the killing of SPO4 Edward Torio.

Torio was ambushed by motorcycle-riding gunmen on Commonwealth Avenue on Dec. 5. He was the supervisor of Task Force Commonwealth, which conducts sidewalk clearing operations against illegal vendors.

Arrested on Monday afternoon were Anwar Sultan, Roy Bersabe, Roel Bulabao, Jamali Din Racman, Elsie de Vera, Ariel Tobias, Rhenzen Arquero, Huro Macarambon, Raisah Macote, Allan Bantilla, Norhaya Mao, Roxanne Ampatua, Samsodin Taurac, Marilyn Rosario, Sammy Usman, Norjanah Akas, Normalia Macapando, Hadji Abdul Gaffur, Abdul Mama and Alsiah Alampac.

Seized were various merchandise such as cell phone accessories, pirated CDs and other items.

Case investigator PO2 Julius Balbuena said the vendors were charged in court for violating a city ordinance on selling without a business permit.

The vendors, Balbuena said, were also blocking the walkway with their wares, making it difficult for pedestrians to walk on the overpass.