Plaza Miranda fortune tellers, vendors shooed away for distancing violations

Fortune tellers and vendors at the Plaza Miranda in front of the Quiapo Church were told to leave due to violations of physical distancing amid the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

According to Isa Avendaño-Umali’s report on “24 Oras,” Team Hawkers operatives from the Manila City Hall said that the fortune tellers also had been sleeping at the plaza.

“Papaano natin malalabanan itong COVID na ito kung hindi natin ipatutupad at hindi rin tayo mag hihigpit sa physical distancing?” Hawkers Task Force chief Samuel Duenas said.

“Naawa man tayo sa kanila, eh, bawal. Wala pa silang physical distancing, dikit-dikit sila, nag-aagawan pa ng customer,” he added.

Fortune teller Betty Mayo, meanwhile, said that she slept at Plaza Miranda because she was afraid of being alone at an inn. She later added that she had no other way to earn amid the pandemic.

“Dito po ako nahiga kasi po wala akong kasama. Sa lodging po ako nakatira. Ang kaso, wala pong nag che-check in, natatakot po akong matulog,” Mayo said.

Vendors that were selling face masks, face shields, and religious idols were also shooed away.

“Sinabihan namin na ‘wag silang mag dikit-dikit, eh, ewan ko ba kung talagang likas na matitigas ang ulo,” Duenas said.

Team Hawkers said that fortune tellers and vendors were strictly prohibited from placing stalls at Plaza Miranda to create more space for the devotees of the Black Nazarene.

The team added that the public should follow health protocols.

A few hours after the clearing operations, the fortune tellers returned to Plaza Miranda. -Joahna Lei Casilao/NB, GMA News