"Don't you even try."

Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna yesterday warned displaced vendors of Divisoria, Carriedo and other areas of commerce not to go back to commandeering streets and pedestrian walkways.

She said they need not look for padrinos, influence peddlers or even her relatives in a bid to convince her to ease the restrictions imposed by her predecessor Isko Moreno.

"No use trying your luck," Lacuna said in assuring her constituents that the anti-illegal vending regulations of the local government are enforced strictly. She said the holiday season is not a reason to bend the law.

Aside from Divisoria and Carriedo, illegal vending is not allowed in Blumentritt and Recto Avenue.

"Illegal vending is still not allowed. We have specific places where they are allowed to trade and do business," Lacuna told the Manila City Hall Reporters Association's Balitaan sa Harbor View.

"Our clearing operations are continuing and so we are calling on illegal vendors not to even try because we will never stop day-in and day-out from removing them," she added.

The first female mayor of the capital city called on Manilans not to stop using masks when going to crowded places like shopping centers where physical distancing cannot be properly observed.

A doctor, Lacuna expressed elation that most people still wear their masks even outdoors despite the national government rule that the wearing of the face cover is already optional.

"People no longer wait to be told. They just wear masks for their own safety," she said.