Dasmariñas barangay captain clarifies viral video of elderly vendor

DASMARIÑAS, Cavite — A barangay official in Dasmariñas clarified Wednesday that the cart and goods of an elderly vendor, whose apprehension by task force members went viral online, were returned to him, though the act was not shown in the trending video.

Barangay San Miguel 2 chairman Marvin Kato said they immediately looked into the case of “Tatay Rolly” after the video spread on social media.

“Naibalik naman po sa kaniya ang nasabing kariton at paninda, kaya lamang ay hindi po naisama sa nag-trending na video ang pagbabalik o pag-sauli nito sa kanya,” Kato said in a public advisory. 

He urged residents to be cautious with online information, adding: “Sa dagat ng impormasyon, huwag maging isda na madaling ma-hook. Maging mangingisdang matalino.”

But many residents remained critical of the incident, saying the treatment of the elderly vendor was unjust regardless of whether his belongings were returned.

“Wala kaming pakialam kung binalik man o hindi. Ang point po dyan ay ‘yung public service—talo n’yo pa mga magnanakaw na basta n’yo na lang ganunin ‘yung matanda,” one resident commented, warning that officials will also grow old and experience hardship.

Another resident said the matter could have been handled better: “Binalik man or what, dapat kinausap na lang ng maayos sa gilid. Hindi na nagmukhang kawawa na kukunin ang kariton niya… oo naibalik na, syempre nag-trending na eh. Kaya malaking bagay talaga ang social media.”

Others doubted the sincerity of the barangay’s response. 

“Binalik kase nag-viral. Pero sa totoo nyan, di nila binabalik kahit lumuha ka pa ng dugo kung di nag-viral,” one resident said.

Another added: “Maniniwala ako sa Dasma task force if kaya nilang hulihin ang mga colorum at out line na trike d’yan sa may hypermarket. Do’n kami maniniwala pa.”