By Joseph Pedrajas
The local government of Parañaque City is still hunting down the man who was caught on video purportedly getting water he uses for the “samalamig (refreshment drink)” he sells from a manhole.
"Hindi sya ma-locate. Pinagtanong tanong na namin yung vendor na 'yun," Mar Jimenez, Paranaque City public information office (PIO) chief, told the Manila Bulletin.
In a viral video reported by GMA News, a man was seen getting water from a manhole along service road in Barangay Baclaran and putting it in a jar.
The uploader of the video alleged that the man used the water he got for the samalamig that he would sell, but Jimenez said they "were not yet able to prove" it.
What they only knew, Jimenez added, was vendors were using the water they got from the manhole to clean their area.
"'Pag naglilinis sila ng lugar nila, ito yung pinangbubuhos nila," Jimenez said.
Nevertheless, the PIO chief still called on the public to report the man who was seen in the video.
"Kung merong mag-wiwitness kung tiga area ang vendor na 'yan, meron s'yang responsibility," Jimenez said.
"Kasi selling of contaminated water source ay hazardous sa public. Meron syang pananagutan nyan, haharap sya sa local ordinance, sa sanitation code," he added.
On Thursday evening, the local government of Parañaque already ordered Maynilad, which had the responsibility over the manhole, to take action regarding the matter.
"Isineal-off na nila permanently," Jimenez said.