ILOILO CITY – Former Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel has called out Iloilo City Councilor Rex Sarabia for claiming to be a human rights lawyer while dismissing the violent dispersal of bolanteros (ambulant and informal market) vendors trying to sell outside a privately redeveloped public market here.

“If you claim to be a human rights lawyer, but you're shocked when marginalized sectors know how to articulate and fight for their rights, then this begs the question: Do you really seek to empower those whom you claim to represent?” said Manuel in a Facebook post on Sunday, April 12.

An Ilonggo, Manuel was reacting to Sarabia’s statement that it is a mockery for the public to criticize him as “anti-poor” when he is a “human right lawyer.”

Sarabia said on April 11 that bolanteros who were ejected the night before are “not the responsibility” of the Iloilo City government under the administration of Mayor Raisa Treñas, his political ally.

Sarabia said it was also possible that the April 10 incident was “manufactured” and “instigated” as

bolanteros were allegedly “media-prepared.”

“This statement reflects a deeply troubling mindset – especially coming from an elected councilor who claims to stand for human rights. Instead of defending the dignity and livelihood of ambulant vendors, his words belittle them and reduce their struggle to something unworthy of concern. That says more about how he views the marginalized than anything else,” noted activist John Ian Alenciaga.

The Treñas administration enforced the policy this year that bolanteros who are mostly from towns of Iloilo province are no longer allowed to sell near the premises after the redevelopment of the city-owned Iloilo Terminal Market.

The Treñas administration said they were merely protecting vendors selling inside. However, the city government-owned public market has a mini-mall with a grocery store.

“If they (bolanteros) want to do business permanently, they must apply through legitimate means and be a tenant inside the market,” Sarabia said.

This was not the first time Sarabia was widely condemned for public statements that defend the policies of Mayor Raisa and her father former Mayor Jerry.

Sarabia authored the 300-percent increase in real property tax (RPT) here being questioned before the Supreme Court.

Sarabia is the son of the late Judge Rita Bascos-Sarabia, a former city councilor and activist who was imprisoned during martial law. His mother handled the dismissal of the rebellion case against former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.

No known activist in Iloilo and Western Visayas has vouched for Sarabia's claims as a human rights lawyer. Sarabia passed the Bar in 2019 and was elected councilor in 2022.