The recent confrontation at Bankerohan Public Market was more than just a clash between sidewalk vendors and a demolition team. It exposed a deeper problem within government operations: the dangerous consequences of poor coordination, weak crowd management, and inadequate security preparation during highly sensitive clearing operations.
What happened on April 29 should never have turned violent.
On one hand, the vendors were defending what they believed was their only source of livelihood. On the other hand, the Ancillary Services Unit (ASU) personnel were carrying out lawful instructions based on existing city ordinances intended to maintain public order, pedestrian safety, and traffic flow. Both sides entered a high-pressure situation already emotionally charged. Any experienced security planner should have anticipated resistance, emotional reactions, and possible confrontation.
Yet, despite how predictable this tension was, the operational handling appeared disorganized and reactive rather than preventive.
The presence of personnel from the Philippine National Police and Task Force Davao should have ensured proper crowd control, de-escalation mechanisms, perimeter security, and civilian protection protocols. Instead, videos circulating online showed confusion, physical confrontations, and even minors being caught in the commotion.
This raises serious questions.
- Were proper risk assessments conducted before the operation?
- Was there a clear operational command structure on the ground?
- Were contingency measures prepared in anticipation of resistance?
- Were personnel adequately briefed on rules of engagement, crowd psychology, and non-violent control measures?
Most importantly: if authorities already knew that the vendors would strongly resist because their livelihoods were involved, why did the operation appear unprepared for that reality?
This is not about saying “illegal vending is fine.”
Laws and ordinances exist for a reason. Public roads, sidewalks, and market pathways cannot simply be occupied indefinitely because disorder affects everyone, including law-abiding vendors who follow regulations. The city government is correct in asserting that regulations must still be implemented fairly and consistently.
However, lawful enforcement alone is not enough. Government action must also be intelligent, organized, humane, and strategically executed.
A poorly managed operation does more than just clear a street. It builds a wall of resentment between the government and the people. Worse, these operational failures become propaganda material for militant and ideological organizations eager to exploit public anger.
Groups such as Kilusang Mayo Uno were quick to frame the incident as proof of a “callous” and “inhumane” government. Predictably, leftist organizations immediately attempted to weaponize the narrative by portraying the confrontation solely as oppression of the poor while deliberately ignoring the legal violations, public obstruction issues, and the government’s obligation to maintain order.
This is the classic formula of political agitation.
Take a legitimate grievance. Amplify emotions. Remove operational context. Simplify the issue into “poor versus government.” Then use public outrage as recruitment fuel.
That is precisely why the government cannot afford operational incompetence in situations like this.
Every poorly planned demolition, every chaotic dispersal, every unnecessary injury, and every image of confusion handed to the public becomes a political weapon for groups seeking to radicalize communities against the state.
Ironically, the greatest gift ideological propagandists receive is not strict law enforcement, it is disorganized governance.
The solution is not to stop enforcing the law. The solution is to enforce it professionally.
Future clearing operations must adopt a whole-of-government approach with clear protocols involving local government units, barangay officials, social welfare offices, the police, and security forces. There must be proper dialogue mechanisms, calibrated responses, designated relocation discussions where applicable, emergency medical teams, child protection measures, and disciplined crowd management units.
Security personnel should not merely “stand by.” They must actively secure both sides: the enforcement teams and the civilians affected by the operation.
This incident should also trigger a serious internal review within operational leadership. Accountability does not only apply to civilians who resist authorities. It also applies to institutions tasked with preventing avoidable escalation.
The people deserve better than chaotic implementation.
The vendors deserve humane and organized engagement.
Law-abiding citizens deserve order in public spaces.
And the government must understand that every operational failure strengthens those who seek to undermine public trust in state institutions.
What happened in Bankerohan should serve as a warning: when governance becomes uncoordinated, everybody loses, and those who exploit public anger for political gain are the first to celebrate.
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