The Quezon City government released a statement on Wednesday, April 24, regarding the Department of Public Order and Safety (DPOS) clearing operations in Pook Dagohoy, Pook Palaris, Area 1, and Area 2, Diliman, Quezon City.
During the road-clearing operations on Tuesday, April 23, DPOS confiscated and destroyed the property of vendors.
“Based on our initial investigation, this was done upon the request of University of the Philippines Diliman Vice Chancellor Roehl Jamon, who coursed the appeal through the Barangay UP Campus’ Punong Barangay, Kapitan Lawrence V. Mappala,” the LGU said in a statement.
“While this clearing operation was consistent with recent directives of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), there is clearly a need to remind those who implemented it that their job demands the highest levels of empathy, compassion, and respect for human rights. Full coordination should likewise be done with all the stakeholders, supported by clear and timely lines of communication,” it added.
The city government apologized to the vendors and individuals affected by the clearing operation.
“On behalf of the entire city government, therefore, I would like to extend my sincerest apologies to all those who were aggravated by the poor handling of our DPOS enforcers,” it said.
It assured that they have already started drafting a framework for future operations of this nature, based on the principles of transparency, consultation, participation, the minimization of harm, and optimal outcomes for all concerned parties.
They also assured that all local departments and agencies will comply with the said framework.