Sunday, October 21, 2007 (Philippines)

Efrain Pelaez Jr. helped take down the cordon that surrounded his Marina mall compound Friday, following the Lapu-Lapu City Government’s enforcement of a closure order. Nine hours later, the export zone authority asserted its control over the area and allowed some 80 establishments to open. Pelaez has questioned some potentially anomalous transactions at City Hall.(Sun.star photo/Allan Cuizon) FOR the nine hours that Marina Mall was closed last Friday, businessman Efrain Pelaez Jr. lost about P5 million, while Save More Supermarket, one of the 80 tenants in his mall, lost P3 million. “Some of my tenants are contemplating of filing a suit to claim damages for their businesses. This is the product of Mayor (Arturo) Radaza’s arrogance and the ill advice of his legal minds,” Pelaez said. Some workers said Radaza should resign because he has lost his prudence in managing the affairs of Lapu-Lapu City. But City Administrator Teodulo Ybañez appealed for respect, particularly from the Cebu Provincial Government, for Lapu-Lapu’s independence and its officials’ exercise of their “prerogatives”. [full story]