Tension mars Caloocan Market clearing ops

Tension gripped the Langaray Market in Barangay 14, Caloocan City at the wee hours of Saturday as vendors and local government authorities faced off at the start of clearing operations for the renovation of the market.

GMA News reported that local authorities will conduct fencing and clearing operations in the public market for the planned renovation and construction of a new two-storey building. 

But vendors refused to leave their stalls, suspecting they will be permanently evicted once the new public market opens for business, despite the temporary stall spaces allocated for them.

They also argued that the clearing operations done at past 12 a.m. has no pertinent documents, the report said.

Alex Mangasar, the chairman of Barangay 14, claimed that the protesting vendors is not a legitimate group in the market, insisting that a new public market is for the benefit of more people.

Authorities tried to get inside the market but the vendors blocked them. Violence has not erupted between the opposing groups, but the tension has continued, the report said.  —John Ted Cordero/LBG, GMA News