A controversy may erupt soon between a Davao City-based business tycoon and Cebu City Hall. That is if businessman Dennis Uy insists on opening his gasoline station near a posh subdivision in Barangay Banilad sans business permit from City Hall.
Uy, who is perceived to be an emerging crony of the Duterte administration, is putting up Phoenix Gas Station along the highway of Banilad near a high-end subdivision. The construction was started a year ago.
After complying with all the necessary building permit and environmental clearance requirements, it was supposed to open a few months ago. But City Hall did not issue a business permit for unknown reasons. Despite the non-issuance of a business permit, Uy decided to open it this weekend with Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea as the guest of honor.
A lawyer-friend, who represented Uy, told this columnist that the “former political has-been” wanted to meet Uy here before the former’s office will issue a business permit. But Uy refused to have an audience with the chief executive. The source said there are only two reasons the “former political has-been” wants to met Uy: either for political funding purposes or make him a bridge so he can seek an audience with President Duterte. Uy is very close to Duterte and he was reportedly one of the biggest campaign fund contributors of Duterte in the 2016 presidential elections.
The 43-year-old entrepreneur first rose to national prominence after he founded and grew Phoenix Petroleum into one of the country’s major independent retailers. A diversified shipment company that transports both passengers and cargo vessels. Uy acquired Cebu-based 2GO shipping company. His company, in consortium with a Chinese conglomerate, has been recently awarded a franchise to operate the third telecommunication company in the country.
Uy’s lawyer is contemplating of filing a complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman or going to court if the “former political has-been” still refuses to issue a business permit. The lawyer said Cebu is claiming to have a business-friendly environment. But officials, especially the chief executive, is making it hard for businessmen to do legitimate businesses for personal reasons. Well, let us see what will happen if Uy really insists on opening his gasoline station despite having no business permit.
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Some residents in Basak, Lapu-Lapu City have been alarmed about the reported establishment of a Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF)-Nur Misuari faction camp in the area. Camp Ameerbahr Rajah Lapu-Lapu was put up several months ago and is headed by a certain Rajah Imbrahim Lapu-Lapu.
According to sources, there are now armed persons manning the said MNLF camp. It was not immediately known if the camp is managed by Sulu-based MNLF members or locally recruited residents. So far, there have been no reported incidents involving the alleged MNLF members. The police, according to the source, are silent about it.
The MNLF was organized by former University of the Philippines (UP) professor Nur Misuari, Hashim Salamat and Dimas Pundatu in the ‘70s. The group has been fighting the government for total Islamic independence in Mindanao. However, it splintered into several factions. Salamat, a Maguindanaoan, formed his Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Pundatu, also from Central Mindanao, formed his MNLF reformist group. Misuari still holds the top post of his MNLF faction with Tausugs and Yakans (native of Sulu and Basilan) as his followers.
Aside from reportedly setting camp in Lapu-Lapu City, the group also put up camps in Ormoc City and other islands in the Visayas. Is this MNLF movements sanctioned by the present administration? And what are their agendas? Just asking.