By Chito Chavez The Quezon City government on Monday vowed to apply the full force of the law in ensuring that all road-right-of-ways are cleared of all forms of obstructions. This came about after five abusive street vendors were put behind bars for continuously violating the city’s anti-vending law in public places. (Keith Bacongco / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) The vendors, four men and a woman, were jailed last February 18 for illegally selling fruits, vegetables, and other merchandise on the sidewalks of Elliptical Road near the gates of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), National Housing Authority (NHA) and Philippine National Bank (PNB) offices which are a stone throw away from Quezon City Hall. The operation was carried out by the Enforcement Unit of the city’s Market Development and Administration Department (MDAD) who received several backlashes for performing its lawful duties. MDAD operatives reasoned out that the arrest was not made through impulse or personal whims but was done lawfully as repeated pleadings for the vendors not to sell their wares in the said area were issued numerous times. MDAD noted that several makeshift stalls of the illegal vendors have obstructed the flow of pedestrians and vehicles adding that their men were met with harsh words and insults when the operation was conducted. In one instance before their arrest, MDAD Enforcement Unit head Vicente Amante said their team that was serving a notice of violation to the illegal vendors was met with threats of physical abuse aside from the usual shouting of degrading invectives. " Tinatakot nila ang mga nagpapatupad ng batas, para silang mga hari sa kalsada" says Amante. (They are threatening our Law Enforcers; they act like kings of the road),’’ Amante said. Prior to their arrest, MDAD had met the officers of the three vendors associations in the area and came up with the agreement that there will be no vending activities in the vicinities of TUCP, NHA, and PNB. As a consideration, retired Colonel Procopio G. Lipana, MDAD Chief of Operations said they can sell their wares in the vicinities of TUCP,  NHA, and PNB only during Saturdays and Sundays which was well received by the vendors. "Please bear in mind that Mayor Belmonte's guiding wisdom in the anti-illegal vendors association is to restore order in our streets, sidewalks, and public places for everybody's benefits and not to deprive the people of their livelihood," Lipana said. “Maghintay lang kayo, may ihinahandang mga programa ang ating mahal na Mayora para sa inyong kabuhayan. Makakapagtinda din kayo ng hindi susuway sa batas dahil may mga ihinahandang mga ordinansa at programa ang ating konseho at ang MDAD para maging legal na ang inyong hanap buhay (Just wait, our beloved City Mayor is preparing something for your livelihood. You can do business without violating the law because our city council is crafting an ordinance that will legalize street vending. MDAD is also preparing the necessary programs for your benefits),” Lipana assured. Lipana blamed the arrested vendors for their arrest “because they violated the law on street vending despite repeated warnings and for their wanton disregard of the agreement forged between MDAD and the vendors associations.” "Will the police, MDAD and other law enforcement services of the government just close their eyes while laws are abused and violated right under their noses?’’ asked Lipana.