2 resorts in hot water for Lent parties

THE Cebu Provincial Police Office is recommending the filing of charges against two beach resorts in Sta. Fe for defying orders not to hold dance parties during the Holy Week.

Acting Cebu Provincial Police Chief Erson Digal said the Budyong Beach Resort continued to play dance music on the night of Black Saturday after police had asked them not to several times.

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Digal said he sent Task Force Igmat head Eduardo Saavedra to inform the resorts that all forms of disco parties or concerts are prohibited during the Holy Week, due to an ordinance in Sta. Fe.

Management of Sugar Beach, for their part, claimed that Gov. Gwen Garcia gave them permission to hold a concert, which Digal said was not true.

When they later said they had a business permit from the municipality, Digal instructed the chief of police to read the document carefully. It was then police learned that the permit was to hold a sports activity, not a concert, which meant Sugar Beach’s request to hold one was denied.

However, Digal said the resort did not disobey them.

Sun.Star Cebu tried, but failed to contact both resorts.

Digal said the governor specifically instructed all resort owners not to hold such activities to keep the observation of the Holy Week solemn, unlike last year’s when a fashion show featuring scantily-clad women, including some celebrities, caused a furor.

He admitted that some resort owners were not happy about this because it hurt their businesses, but said those who wanted to hold a solemn weekend in the island were glad about the ordinance.

40-percent drop

Digal said his men did note a 40-percent drop in the number of resort goers.

He hopes that next year, all resorts will cooperate and not give them a hard time.

He pointed out that after his men left Budyong, the music started again.

“Mahug og kita’y gikabuangan lang kay inig balik nato, pawng nasad unya inig lakaw, andar napud (The music would stop when my men would get to resort only for it to start again when my men left),” Digal told reporters.

The municipal ordinance bans the holding of shows during the Holy Week.

Digal said they can hold shows on any other day, as long as it does not fall during the Holy Week.