Criminal gangs behind illegal vendors in Manila – Atienza

Former Manila Mayor and now Buhay Party-list Representative Lito Atienza on Saturday alleged that criminal syndicates were behind the operations and proliferation of illegal vendors along the streets of the city's commercial centers.

"Iba 'yung [sindikato] sa Quiapo, iba 'yung Blumentrit, iba 'yang Carriedo, iba 'yang Avenida/Rizal, iba 'yang Divisoria," Atienza explained in a news forum.

"The biggest money maker is Divisoria. Andiyan yung active syndicate. Meron 'yang organization down the line. Merong kabo, kolektor, basta 'yung mayor naghihintay lang 'yun... at the end of the week meron siyang expectation."

Atienza also claimed that during his time as mayor of Manila, nobody dared to offer him a bribe as he had threatened to fire any of his staff if they lobbied to allow vendors on streets and sidewalks.

The party-list lawmaker made his claims after Manila Mayor Isko Moreno bared that he was allegedly offered a P5-million per day bribe to stop his campaign to rid Manila's streets and sidewalks of illegal vendors.  — John Ted Cordero/DVM, GMA News