Tricycle driver arrested after insisting to enter the market to buy food for family

A tricycle driver in Caloocan was dragged by barangay officers after he insisted to enter the market to buy food for his family, according to a report of MJ Geronimo on Stand For Truth on Wednesday.

Ryan Ramos said the barangay officers who were manning the entry point in the market pulled his shirt from the back, while one of them allegedly choked him.

“Naging mainit na rin ako kasi namumura na ako ng mga kasama niya ...May mga dumagdag pa na humawak sa likod ng shirt ko. Pumapalag lang ako, gusto ko lang makawala ,” he said.

“Tapos nga ‘yung isang lalaki nakasakal sa leeg. Hindi ako makahinga,” he added.

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He said the barangay officers cuffed him, then took him to the barangay hall and detained him.

Ramos was barred from the market because his quarantine pass indicated that he was from another barangay.

“Sabi nila, ‘Sir bawal po kayo rito.’ Parang sumama ‘yung loob ko na hindi talaga ako makapasok. Bumalik ulit ako,” he said.

Ramos explained that the market was the closest from their home.

According to Barangay 176 executive officer Rolly Cebu, Ramos hit a barangay staff.

“Ang kailangan pumasok , ‘yung mga taga-barangay namin. Based sa information ko, ang binigay na quarantine pass is hindi sa barangay namin. So, hindi talaga siya makapasok,” Cebu said.

“Nagmura siya, naghamon, at ayon pa sa blotter na pinasa ko, nanuntok pa ng isang staff ng market admin namin sa barangay,” he added, noting that they did not cuff him.

Ramos denied the accusation.

Due to the sustained community transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the entire Luzon was placed under enhanced community quarantine.

People were strictly advised to stay home while work and public transportation are suspended. Activities such as delivering and buying food are exempted from the restriction.

Interior and Local Government Undersecretary for Barangay Affairs Martin Diño said the barangay officers should have allowed Ramos to go to the market since he was just there to buy food.

“Sa panahon ng kalamidad, dapat ang mga nagtatrabaho sa barangay ay mapang-unawa. Ngayon kung sa barangay niya, walang palengke o walang mabili doon, pwede namang lumipat dahil ang purpose niya bumili ng pagkain, hindi para mamasyal,” he said.

“Kaya ‘yang mga abusado na mga tanod, kagawad, kapitan, dapat ‘yan meron pinaglalagyan yan. Bakit, sila na ba ang may-ari ng barangay nila?” he added.

According to lawyer Edward Chico, the arrest of Ramos as well as imposing fine on him was wrong.

“Yung pagkakaaresto sa kaniya  ay mali. At malinaw na paglabag sa kanyang karapatan,” he said.

“Yung pagbabayad ng multa ay hindi makatwiran sapagkat kung ikaw ay maaresto, kinakailangan ka pang dalhin sa korte at masakdal. And only the court can impose those penalties,” he added.

Ramos lamented that the officers did not understand his position that he just wanted to provide food for her wife and child at that time.

“Parang hindi nila maunawaan," he said.—AOL, GMA News