Tulfo flags alleged bribery in street vendor crackdown

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Erwin Tulfo on Thursday flagged an alleged “lagay” (extortion) system involving street vendors, saying some are apprehended if they fail to give money to certain authorities.

During a joint Senate committee hearing he chaired on proposed measures seeking to establish a Magna Carta for informal ambulant vendors, Tulfo lamented that some vendors, already struggling to earn a living, allegedly face demands for bribes.

“What is happening on the ground right now, they are apprehended if they do not give payoffs to hawkers, City Hall, or the police station. They are apprehended because they did not give a payoff. But for others, even if they are just set up there, it is okay because they gave a payoff. It should be fair,” Tulfo said in Filipino during the hearing.

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READ: MMDA plans crackdown on street vendors

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Also during the hearing, League of Municipalities of the Philippines representative Atty. Mary Ann De Vera acknowledged that, based on her personal knowledge, not all municipalities prioritize establishing proper registration systems for ambulant vendors.

According to De Vera, some local governments have adopted ordinances and programs regulating the sector. She cited Barcelona, Sorsogon, where vendors are registered and provided with designated vending areas and carts.

Tulfo, however, noted that the absence of such ordinances in some areas leaves ambulant vendors vulnerable to abuse.

READ: Manila police chief: Cops tolerating illegal street vendors to get ax

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“That is where demands for payoffs come in. Every day, ambulant vendors give payoffs to many people. Worse, some prepare money for hawkers, police, and even the barangay. What will they have left to earn if everything goes to payoffs?” he said in Filipino.

Tulfo added legislation or local ordinances are needed to protect ambulant vendors while maintaining that the sector should still be regulated.

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He also reminded the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to continue instructing its personnel not to confiscate the merchandise of apprehended vendors.

Meanwhile, MMDA representative Atty. Victor Nuñez said that, as much as possible, the agency does not confiscate goods during clearing operations. /mcm

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