BAGUIO City Mayor Mauricio Domogan returned unsigned a City Council resolution requesting the Regional Trial Court and the mayor’s office to grant the Red Lion Inc. a final extension to operate.
“Since (the issue has been brought to the Court), then it is the (court) that can resolve said issue,” the mayor said in his marginal note.
He also urged the aldermen to also give the concerned barangay officials and residents who along with city government departments and offices have been clamoring for the establishments’ closure due to numerous violations the same opportunity to air the sentiments and clamor as what was given the Red Lion owners.
The City Council in its November 19 session approved Resolution No. 373 authored by all including Vice Mayor Edison Bilog asked the RTC Branch 5 and the mayor “to grant the last extension of the business operation of Red Lion Inc. at Leonard Wood Raod, Manuel Roxas Barangay... until 31 December 2018.”
The move was in consideration of the letter of owner Pacita Perlas asking for reconsideration of the order of the mayor closing of their establishment pursuant to the order of the RTC Branch 5.
Perlas said the extension would afford them enough time to finalize and start their relocation and at the same time prevent their 48 employees from having a bleak Christmas.
“During the deliberations, the (council) agreed to respectfully (make the said request) without necessarily being subjected to contempt by the court,” the body noted in the resolution.
The City Legal Office expressed dismay over the council’s move saying it is ironic considering that city departments and offices including their office, the city planning and development office and the city licensing division did their best to act on the violations of the establishment to the point of being dragged into the court when Red Lion filed a case for injunction with writ of preliminary injunction and temporary restraining order.
The legal offices defended the city’s action to close the establishment as clamored by residents and officials which led to an agreement between the parties last September 10 to give a firm a two-month winding down extension.
The extension lapsed last November 10 but the owners were again appealing for another grace period until December.
The pub has been operating without business permit as it cannot comply with the zoning and liquor ordinances.
Apart from permit lapses, the club has been the subject of complaints from the barangay officials and residents for being a nuisance.
The pub has been noted for wantonly violating the 12 midnight cut-off period of operations and for causing some of the crimes that transpired in the area, as reported by the police station manning the jurisdiction.
Domogan maintained that the city has given the establishment enough considerations and the court order should prevail. (PR)