BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio Leonardia had tasked the City Legal Office (CLO) to conduct an assessment on the operation of “Peryahan ng Bayan” by Globaltech Mobile Online Corporation at the Burgos-Lacson Streets.

Leonardia said the city will follow what the law says.

“If the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) claimed that the Globaltech is not authorized, so this should not be authorized to operate,” he said.

Retired Marine Major Manuel Fraginal, chief of PCSO Nationwide Inter-Branch Security Monitoring, earlier said that he already referred to their lawyer the filing of charges against the Globaltech.

Fraginal insisted that the operation of Globaltech is illegal because it does not have a permit from PCSO.

PCSO team headed by Fraginal earlier placed the “notice of closure” tarpaulin in front of the establishment, but Globaltech resisted and removed the said tarpaulin. It also continued its operation.

Last week, Globaltech also filed grave coercion and alarm and scandal charges against Fraginal before the City Prosecutor’s Office.

Leonardia advised the City Council to take a very close and in-depth assessment of the situation after the Globaltech applied to get a resolution of no objection (Rono) last week.

“They should take a depth assessment of the situation to avoid wrong decisions,” Leonardia said.

“For me, I will only follow the legal (process),” he said.

Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran earlier said the City Council did not grant Rono to Globaltech.

He said when operating the betting station, they should seek a Rono and it's a requirement to secure a business permit based on the city's ordinance.