Saturday, September 29, 2007 Nalzaro: Revolt of some businessmen in Lapu-Lapu By Bobby Nalzaro Saksi
THERE'S this saying that, “You cannot fight City Hall.” But the Mactan Island Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MICCI) led by Efrain Pelaez Jr. are up in arms against the administration of Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Arturo “Boy” Radaza.
The main beef against Radaza is his alleged “money-making venture” targeting some businessmen in his turf. They claimed they have hard time dealing with the mayor, who allegedly won’t approve business permit applications if they won’t give in to his demands. The allegation is that the mayor asks for a certain amount before he signs the applications. He denied it.
One of those who exposed Radaza's “modus” was businessman Richard King, owner of Crown Regency Hotel.
King accused Radaza of demanding an amount from him through an emissary in exchange for the approval of his application for a building permit for his hotel. When, King said, he refused to give in to the mayor's demand, City Hall demolished the structure in his resort that it claimed encroached on the shoreline.
King is now challenging the mayor to a public debate on issues like the failure to implement basic services and corruption in City Hall.
Aside from King, other investors claimed to have also been victimized by Radaza but they did not complain for fear of reprisal. There were even reports that Radaza allegedly demanded money from international film company Big Foot, an accusation that he denied.
MICCI commissioned an independent group to conduct a survey on the degree of corruption in Radaza's administration. Some businessmen-respondents said they personally experienced being asked to cough up money in exchange for the approval of their applications.
Radaza refuted the survey result claiming it was a demolition job against him and his administration.
Pelaez' group filed graft charges with the Ombudsman against Radaza and some city officials for the allegedly anomalous purchase of computer units that were distributed to various public schools in the city. Pelaez claimed that the computer units were overpriced based on Commission on Audit (COA) finding. But poor Pelaez, he is now the subject of Radaza's ire.
Radaza's camp accused Pelaez of tax evasion and tagged him as a violator for constructing his buildings without securing the necessary permits. In fact, the City Government is contemplating on declaring him “persona non grata.” There are also moves to close his establishments operating in the city.
But why is Radaza doing it now? Pelaez’s tax evasion case was reported a few years ago but why is he scrutinizing it now? Pelaez establishments were built several years ago. If he committed violations, why were they exposed only now?
And City Hall could have demolished them even before Pelaez made noise about the mayor’s allegedly questionable dealings.
Radaza should not divert the issue and rather face it squarely. Is he untouchable? Is he playing God? He doesn't even personally answer in public the allegations hurled against him. Why is he persecuting Pelaez, who is just taking the cudgels for investors allegedly victimized by his administration?
