THERE is tension in today’s opening of a gasoline station that does not have a certificate of occupancy from the Office of the Building Official (OBO). Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, owned by Davao City businessman Dennis Uy, will open its branch in Barangay Banilad near a posh subdivision sans certificate of occupancy. Uy is said to be a major campaign fund contributor to President Duterte in the 2016 elections.
The management, through its legal counsel Innocencio dela Cerna, has asked Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Chief Royina Garma and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 7 Chief Lito Patay to deploy policemen to the area to prevent untoward incidents from happening.
Commercial establishment operating in the city should comply with the requirements such as building, fire, occupancy, business and mayor’s permits. In the absence of such permits, its operation is deemed illegal and the local government unit has the power to close it down. Expected to grace the occasion are VIPs from the petroleum industry, local businessmen and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.
Last year, Phoenix applied for a building permit for the construction of the gasoline station near Paradise Subdivsion in Barangay Banilad. But an injunction case was filed before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) against Phoenix.
Because of the legal issue, the matter was referred to the City Legal Office, which recommended last October 2017 that OBO may approve or disapprove Phoenix’s building permit application in the absence of a court restraining order. In April this year, a building permit was issued by OBO. But when Phoenix submitted an application for certificate of occupancy, OBO Chief Josefa Ylanan halted the issuance of the certificate based on an advise of the city legal office.
Phoenix only learned of the non-issuance of the certificate of occupancy in August. The injunction earlier issued by the Regional Trial Court was reversed by the Court of Appeals. Phoenix lawyers followed up the application but to no avail. OBO did not also explain why it will not issue a certificate of occupancy. But sources said it was the mayor who ordered OBO not to issue the certificate.
The source said that the “former political has-been” wanted to talk to Uy. Whether he wants to talk about political campaign funds or to use Uy as a “bridge” to President Duterte, we don’t know. Uy is close to Duterte. But the businessman refuses to talk with the “former political has been.”
Let us see what will happen today.
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Kudos to the Cebu media. Republic Act 11122 or “An Act Declaring September 21 of Every Year a Special Working Holiday in the City of Cebu and the Entire Province of Cebu Including its Highly Urbanized and Component Cities to be Known as ‘Cebu Press Freedom Day,’” was signed into law by President Duterte.
It was initiated by the Cebu Citizen’s Press Council (CCPC) under Atty. Pachico “Cheking” Seares and through the effort of Cebu City north district Rep. Raul del Mar. Del Mar, who is seeking reelection, is, indeed, champion of the Cebu media.