A porter at the Carbon Market shows a large bruise on his right thigh allegedly inflicted by Police Station 5 cops as punishment after he was caught not wearing a face mask while resting inside the city’s biggest wet market.
CEBU CITY, Philippines — A Carbon Market porter claimed to have been paddled by the police for violating health protocols on February 8, 2021.
The porter, who created an anonymous account on Facebook with a tag of Aiko Ylara went viral for his post on Tuesday, February 9, 2021, admitted he was not wearing a face mask while resting from carrying various types of load in the market, which led to his arrest.
He said he understands the reason why he was apprehended and brought to prison.
“Pabayron ko ug P1,000 multa pero wala man intawn ko kwarta nga dala. Akong dala ra jud basta magdeliver kay baon nga kan-on ug sud-an ug gamay na sinsilyo palit tubig. Kay ako wala kabayad sa multa mao to nga samtang gahulat sa Police station kung unsay buhaton sa ako, ningkalit tawag ang pulis ug ‘sunod’ ug ako mingsulod sa opisina sa pulis ug gipapili ko tulo o lima ug akong gitubag ‘tulo sir.’ Naa isa ka pulis nga mingiingon ‘duha lang na siya’ pero gipaddle ko ug katulo. Kini nahitabo Pebrero 8, 2021, mga alas 2 sa hapon,” said the porter in a post.
He claimed that he was paddled three times which led to a bruise at the back of his thigh rendering him unable to work in the past two days.
The porter added that at least 10 individuals were also paddled by the police, but are afraid to complain because they have violated the health protocols themselves.
“Giingnan lang akong ig-agaw nga pareklamohon ko sa Police Station, kinsa pa man mo reklamo nga mismo sa police station natabo ang pagpaddle pero wala ni isa nakabadlong nga dili sakto nga silot ang paddle. Ug miingon pa nga walay nahitabo na pagpangpaddle kagahapon. Ug nakaviolate diay sa maong balaod, sakto ba nga silot ang pagpaddle sa paa?,” asked the porter.
Meanwhile, Police Colonel Josefino Ligan on Wednesday, February 10, has ordered the relief of the concerned policeman whom he did not identify.
Ligan earlier instructed Police Station 5 or the Carbon Police Station to conduct a thorough investigation to identify the involved enforcer.
“Nagpaimbestigar ta kay grabe rapud pagkabunal gyod if tinood man gyod. Palawman nato ang investigation,” said Ligan on February 10, 2021.
Ligan said this practice is not sanctioned or condoned by the police and he assures the public that they will get to the bottom of the incident.
Yet the victim has not yet filed a formal complaint against the involved policemen, which is why Ligan is hoping for the victim to file a formal complaint so that the case can be investigated properly.
An ambulant vendor in Carbon Market, who asked to remain anonymous, told CDN Digital in a text that they have experienced a similar incident last January 2021 still in the same police station.
The vendor said they wanted to complain to the Market Operations Division (MOD) but hesitated since they violated the protocols themselves.
He did not reveal if he was paddled as well but claimed to have been physically hurt by the police.
In a phone interview with CDN Digital, Market Head, Irvin Cabales said that physical punishment is never a sanction for violation of health protocols.
He added that he will wait for the results of the investigation to know what really transpired and if human rights were actually violated by any enforcer.
“Bawal na ang physical contact or pasakitan ang tawo. Administrative fee ra gyod atoa nga P500 nya if di kabayad community service,” said Cabales.
The Market Head assured any worker of the market that the city government will help those who have complaints of maltreatment by authorities.
The MOD said it is willing to assist those who want to file complaints but are not sure where to file them.
Councilor Philip Zafra, the city council’s chairperson of the committee of peace and order, said the incident must never be condoned, and an investigation must be properly conducted as well.
“Even the officials of the CCPO would not condone that kind of action. Dili gyod maayo. Currently, I was informed by CCPO that they are conducting an investigation, rest assured investigation is underway. If the allegations are true there may be human rights violations,” said Zafra. /rcg