A hauling contractor sacked a garbage collector for allegedly harassing a female student who was waiting for a ride in Barangay Bagumbuhay, Project 4, Quezon City.
The city’s Environmental Protection and Waste Management Department (EPWMD) said the sacked garbage collector or “palero” was reprimanded and terminated by the management of OMNI Hauling Services Inc.
The hauling contractor said that this should serve as a stern warning to its personnel to strictly adhere to Quezon City’s anti-catcalling ordinance (City Ordinance 2501-2016), which penalizes sexual harassment in public places, and Republic Act 9170 or the Magna Carta for Women.
“Nais ipaalala ng kompanya na dapat ay kontrolado ninyo ang inyong mga palero dahil kayo ang direktang kumukuha dito,” the company’s memo read.
The case stemmed from a complaint by a certain Sandy which was coursed through the social media page of the Quezon City Public Affairs Department (PAISO).
“Nakatayo ako sa kanto ng Kalantiyaw Street at naghihintay ng masasakyan nang dumaan ang isang dilaw na garbage truck na may body number 15. Kasunod nito ang lalaki na collector. Pagdaan sa akin, sinabi niya: ‘idol, ang ganda mo. I love you.’ Nilingon ko siya at sinabing, ‘bastos,’ ngunit ngumiti pa siya. Nakakabastos po. Sana matukoy ang taong ito at mapagsabihan man lang,” Sandy’s message to QC-PAISO read. (Chito Chavez)
