The garbage trader who was violently arrested in a clearing operation in Parañaque on Friday after being traumatized by the incident first stopped working.
In an interview with ABS-CBN News this Tuesday, Warren Villanueva admitted that he was traumatized by the violent arrest of some members of the Parañaque Task Force during clearing operations in Barangay Baclaran.
He said he still could not forget how he was knocked down, touched on the neck and legs, handcuffed, and kicked in the face just because he refused to give his cart that he uses to work.
It is said that his body is still in pain and he has received a wound on his lip.
According to Villanueva, when he was arrested and taken to the Baclaran police substation, members of the task force allegedly told him not to have an interview with the media.
He was also allegedly forced to plead and apologize for fear of incarceration.
“Noong may posas pa lang ako noon sinabihan ako, ‘Pasalamat ka may media’… Tapos sabi noong isa humingi ka na lang ng sorry… palalayain ka naman namin ibabalik namin ‘yong kariton mo,” he said.
Villanueva’s mother, Alita Frias, felt angry because of what happened to her son.
“Hindi naman salbahe ‘yong anak ko,” she said.
Victim of violent arrest in Parañaque stops working due to trauma
Task Force Parañaque members defended and asserted that they did not intimidate Villanueva.
Villanueva became violent during the operation so he was held in his hands and feet, said Rolly Santiago, head of the task force.
The Parañaque local government has suspended 5 members of the task force involved in the incident while the city hall is conducting an investigation.
According to Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Martin Diño, barangay officials should be present when conducting a clearing operation to immediately identify and prosecute those who seek the arrest and prevent injury.
Villanueva’s family is studying whether to file a complaint against members of the task force involved in the incident.
The family also called for the incident not to happen again, especially for the poor like them who are just working.