Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada on Friday said he will sanction the heads of the Police Community Precinct (PCP) chiefs who tolerate the operation of illegal vendors in their jurisdiction.
Estrada issued a “one-strike” policy that penalizes PCP commanders who are lax in enforcing the city government’s regulations against illegal vending.
“Once we have cleared their area of illegal vendors and all forms of obstructions, it is the responsibility of the precinct commanders to maintain its cleanliness and orderliness. If we find out that those vendors have returned, the concerned PCP commander is instantly relieved,” Estrada said.
“If a clearing is conducted, vendors must not come back. If they do, they will have to answer for this. No second chances,” Estrada warned the precinct commanders bluntly.
Estrada personally led road clearing operations in Manila in the past month as part of his vision to put order back in the city streets. Among those cleared are Divisoria, Binondo, Blumentritt, Quiapo, and Sta, Cruz-Rizal Avenue.
To ensure the PCP commanders’ compliance with his one-strike rule, Estrada created a composite team that will regularly monitor traffic flow in Manila and check if illegal vendors returned to areas where they are banned.
The task force is composed of personnel from the Office of the Mayor, Department of Public Safety (DPS), Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB), Manila Tricycle Regulatory Office, Manila Barangay Bureau, City Treasurer’s Office, and Manila Police District Traffic Enforcement Unit (MPD-TEU).
“We’ll be watching every corner of the city so the PCP commanders, and even barangay officials, should better be on their toes always,” Estrada said, stressing the seriousness of his road clearing campaign.
The mayor said he is aware that several policemen are on the “take” of the illegal vendors, colorum drivers and operators, and even groups who “maintain” illegal parking zones that have been the cause of traffic congestion in the city for years.
“We will know about this,” Estrada quipped.
Prior to this, various sectors have been calling on the city government to keep a round-the-clock watch on roads that were recently cleared since most illegal vendors return after the police have left.
Last week, the commander of the PCP 7 under the Station 11 of the MPD 11 in Binondo was sacked after the discovery of a shabu den just a few feet away from the police outpost.
City hall workers were tearing down makeshift shanties under the Muello De Binondo Bridge when they stumbled upon drug paraphernalia.