THERE are at least 1,019 business establishments in Cebu City that are operating without business permits. Of these numbers, 47 were closed last August, according to the Task Force on the Inspection, Investigation and Business Permits chief Melvin Bacalso.
The campaign against erring establishments is part of the City’s tax collection efficiency in order to meet its annual target revenue collection. If this is the case, what happened to other establishments that failed to comply with the necessary permit requirements? Why is City Hall lenient in dealing with these establishments? If the 47 establishments had been ordered closed, why the others continued operating sans business permit? Is there a selective campaign against erring establishments? I view this as a “double standard” campaign. These erring establishment should also be closed.
The much-publicized case of an establishment operating without business permit is the newly constructed Phoenix gasoline station in Barangay Banilad. The gasoline station was inaugurated the other week and started its operation despite non-issuance of a business permit. In fact, the Office of the Building (OBO) just issued an occupancy permit after the inauguration.
Ergo, the operation of that gasoline station is deemed illegal. But the management has already applied and paid for the business permit. Why did it take too long for City Hall to issue the permit? Pending issuance, why did the City Hall allow it to operate? It should be temporarily closed. Selective campaign because the owner is Davao City-based businessman Dennis Uy who is closed to the powers-that-be?
***
Two weeks ago, I exposed the establishment of a Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) Nur Misuari faction camp in Basak, Lapu-Lapu City. The Lapu-Lapu City Police Office immediately checked the information but they failed to gather more information. I got this information from a lawyer-friend who was approached by the group’s leader to be their legal counsel.
I got an e-mail from a concerned citizen in Lapu-Lapu City to support this report. I am withholding the writer’s name upon request.
“A few weeks ago, I heard this news about the alleged recruitment of MNLF members and that their base of operations is at Barangay Basak. Makaingon gyud ko Super Bob nga tinuod gyud na kay ako mismo nakakita sa ilahang ‘registration document.’
“Last September ni nahitabo. Gikan ko sa Island Central Mall ato kay naa koy gipalit. Unya nisakay ko og multicab padulong sa Tamiya. Somewhere in Pusok, naay nisakay tomboy nagbitbit ug transparent envelope nga naay mga papers. Nag-atbang ming duha sulod sa multicab. So, nakita gyud nako kung unsay sulod sa iyang envelope.’
“Sus, karon Super Bob, registration man to sa MNLF. Wala lang ko nakabasa sa iyang pangalan pero sigurado gyud ko Super Bob nga registration paper gyud to sa MNLF kay naa man sa heading sa document; ‘Muslim Republic of the Philippines, Moro National Liberation Front’ registration form.
“Nakuyawan gyud ko ato Super Bob kay kapila na ko nakadungog lagi anang mga hugon-hugon nga naay mga nagtago nga terorista diha sa Basak. Maayo unta ug ma-monitor na diha ug maayo sa mga awtoridad labi na sa military kay sus kaduol raba nila diha sa Air Force base.”
Well, I am again urging the police in Lapu-Lapu City to double-check this information as it created tension among the city’s residents. What is their purpose in establishing an MNLF camp in the city? Are they here for peace?