Cebu City Councilor Pastor "Jun" Alcover Jr. has announced he will formally request an investigation by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in Central Visayas. This move comes in response to a viral video showing the apprehension of a bottled water vendor at Plaza Sugbu, which sparked allegations of abuse by city enforcers.
Allegations of Mistreatment Without Warning
The core of the controversy centers on claims made by the vendor, Ruel Omaba. The 37-year-old man asserted that he was not actively selling water at the time of the incident on January 5, 2026. According to Omaba, he was merely passing through the area in front of City Hall when personnel from the city apprehended him.
Omaba stated that the enforcers confiscated his goods and physically dragged him from the vicinity. He emphasized that this action was taken without any prior verbal warning or explanation for his detention. The entire encounter was recorded on a mobile phone, and the footage quickly spread across social media platforms, drawing public outrage and calls for accountability.
Official Response and Planned Council Action
Councilor Alcover confirmed he would bring the issue to the floor of the Cebu City Council. He is scheduled to deliver a privilege speech during the regular session on Tuesday, January 6. As part of this effort, Alcover plans to invite affected vendors and representatives from CHR 7 to participate in a discussion. The goal is to establish clearer and more humane protocols for how city enforcers should handle similar situations in the future.
Mayor Nestor Archival has responded to the growing concern. He publicly welcomed Councilor Alcover's initiative to involve the human rights commission. Simultaneously, Mayor Archival has issued a memorandum directing Rune Maquiling, the head of the Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification and Enhancement (Probe) team, to submit an immediate report on the incident.
Investigation Launched and Call for Maximum Tolerance
Mayor Archival confirmed that a formal investigation is now underway. He assured the public that any city personnel found to have committed wrongdoing would face appropriate administrative action. In light of the event, the Mayor has issued renewed instructions to all city enforcers to observe maximum tolerance and maintain proper communication when interacting with the public.
The incident has highlighted ongoing tensions between street vendors and city enforcement operations in busy public areas like Plaza Sugbu. The outcome of the CHR and internal city investigations will be closely watched, as it could lead to significant changes in enforcement policy and vendor relations in Cebu City.
