Enforcer suspended after beating up fish vendor in QC, had prior incidents caught on video

The head of Quezon City’s Task Force Disiplina has ordered the suspension of the enforcer who was caught on camera repeatedly hitting a fish vendor with a stick on Panay Avenue after the latter supposedly violated quarantine protocols.

While city councilor and QC Task Force Disiplina head Rannie Ludovica said the use of the stick was a form of “reasonable force” against unruly citizens, he said enforcer Joel Laurel had exceeded its use.

“Kung isa o dalawang beses lang niya ginamit ‘yong stick, medyo reasonable force ‘yon pero noong nakita ko, excessive na rin at may instance pa na dalawang beses niya sunod na pinalo which is ‘di namin ito-tolerate,” Ludovica said in Ivan Mayrina’s Wednesday report on 24 Oras.

Prior to the incident, Lauren had also been caught on video for hitting several quarantine violators while they were doing some push-ups on V. Luna Avenue.

Meanwhile, Laurel defended himself, saying there was nothing wrong with his disciplinary measures.

“Nakaranas tayo ng pagdidisiplina ng ating mga magulang. ‘Yong pagpalo po sa pwet eh ‘di naman natin masasabi na sinasaklawan natin ‘yong karapatan nilang pantao,” he said.

“‘Yan po ang pangunahing ginagamit ng mga tanod, yantok. ‘Wag kang gagamit ng kamay, paa, ‘yan po masasabing pambubugbog pero ‘yong ginawa ko sa kaniyang pananakit, pamamalo ng yantok eh ‘yon po ‘yong paraan ko lang na naiisip para maisama siya,” he added.

Laurel said he had no choice but to use force on the man because he was uncooperative.

“Makikita naman siguro nila na hindi ko pinalo kung saan-saan lang. May mga parte na dapat kong paluin para bumitaw siya doon sa pagkakakapit niya para makalma ko siya o bumaba siya para mahawakan namin siya ng maayos,” he added. -NB, GMA News