The Cebu City Council will launch its own investigation into the controversial arrest of a bottled water vendor at Plaza Sugbo.
City Councilor Jun Alcover said the identities of the personnel involved must first be confirmed before any action is considered with the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).
Alcover, chairman of the City Council’s Committee on Markets, said he will file a resolution by Tuesday directing the Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification, and Enhancement (PROBE) team to submit the names of all officers involved in the December 16 operation, which resurfaced online and drew public criticism.
“We still do not know who were involved. Once the names are produced, we will begin the investigation,” Alcover said in an interview on Saturday, January 3.
“Depending on the findings, we may elevate this to the CHR, but that will come after the council’s inquiry.”
The councilor said officials involved may be called to an executive session to clarify the circumstances that led to the arrest and determine whether proper procedures were followed.
Alcover traced the issue to a long-standing failure to regulate ambulant vendors at Plaza Sugbo, citing the absence of the GASA board, a special body meant to organize and oversee vendors in public spaces.
“This problem became bigger because the GASA board was never convened. There was no clear direction for the vendors,” he said.
“PROBE is supposed to be part of that body. If it had been functioning, policies could have been set and this situation might have been avoided.”
The councilor added that vendors had approached his office as early as August last year seeking assistance after allegedly being threatened with removal.
He personally brought them to Mayor Nestor Archival’s office, where assurances were made that vendors could continue operating as long as the area was kept clean and orderly.
According to Alcover, the mayor also directed that vendors be organized, provided with uniforms, and required to follow clear rules.
Despite these measures, two incidents later occurred, including the recent arrest of the water vendor that sparked widespread criticism online as excessive and inhumane.
The incident prompted Mayor Archival to order an internal review of city personnel involved in the operation.
The mayor said enforcement actions were based on Cebu City Ordinance No. 2686, or the Anti-Road Obstruction Ordinance, but emphasized that abuse or misconduct would not be tolerated.
Archival previously instructed enforcement teams, including PROBE and the Cebu City Enforcement Team (CSET), to exercise “maximum tolerance,” particularly toward small vendors earning a living.
He cited complaints from tourists and the public regarding congestion, aggressive mendicancy, and littering at Plaza Sugbo.
While the case was reviewed in December, the mayor ordered a fresh probe following renewed public attention, warning that personnel found violating protocols could face sanctions.
The City Council’s investigation will determine whether enforcement actions exceeded legal and ethical boundaries and whether filing a complaint before the CHR is justified. (LLP)
