By JEN BAYLON

La Carlota City Mayor Rex Jalando-on will take decisive action against two individuals who allegedly assaulted an elderly street sweeper in a video that made rounds on social media yesterday.

Jalando-on has initiated discussions with the street sweeper yesterday on the possibility of filing a case against the couple.

“Isa pa lang ka side, sa senior citizen, ang napamatian ta. Sa dason semana, ipatawag ta naman ang duha ka bata para mabal-an ta ang side nila,” Jalando-on said in a radio interview yesterday.

“Mamangkot man kita sa investigation sang kapulisan. Hulaton ta ang tuod-tuod nga picture sang natabo kay basi may iban pa nga natabo,” he added.

The incident, which has sparked widespread outrage online, shows the couple allegedly engaged in a heated altercation with the elderly man early Thursday morning, January 16.

According to reports, the 67-year-old street sweeper had gone to purchase soft drinks from a small stall on Yungque Street in Barangay 3 (Poblacion), around 3:00 a.m.

A woman, wearing a black shirt, allegedly intoxicated at the time of the incident, approached and assaulted the elderly following a heated exchange.

Attempting to avoid further trouble, the senior citizen decided to walk away.

However, the woman chased him, and a man wearing a red shirt, who was reportedly her boyfriend, intervened.

The man grabbed him by his shirt and allegedly threatened him with violence as shown in the video.

Despite efforts by nearby residents to pacify the situation, the elderly man was still attacked by the woman, further worsening the incident.

The senior citizen’s wife, who was with him at the time, became visibly distressed by the altercation.

The couple, both working as street sweepers, had started their job early in the morning to avoid the heat of the day and crowded streets./JB, WDJ