Pawnshop chain asks court to cause reopening of 9 branches

CLOSED FOR NOW. Nine branches of Jerome’s Pawnshop in Cebu City remain closed, but its owners are hoping the court will grant their petition for a temporary restraining order. A hearing is set this afternoon. (SunStar photo / Alex Badayos)
CLOSED FOR NOW. Nine branches of Jerome’s Pawnshop in Cebu City remain closed, but its owners are hoping the court will grant their petition for a temporary restraining order. A hearing is set this afternoon. (SunStar photo / Alex Badayos)

THE owner of nine branches of Jerome’s Pawnshop that were shut down by the Cebu City Government has asked the court for temporary relief.

But City Hall lawyers believe the legal move is already moot and academic.

City lawyer Carlo Gimena, who is handling the case, said the pawnshop owner has filed a petition for injunction with prayer for temporary restraining order (TRO) or writ of preliminary injunction before the court.

Gimena said the petitioner’s purpose in filing the petition was to stop Mayor Tomas Osmeña and the Prevention Restoration Order Beautification and Enhancement (Probe) from closing the branches of Jerome’s Pawnshop.

But City Attorney Joseph Bernaldez said the application for a TRO or any other injunctive relief is already moot.

“What is there to be restrained when it was already closed?” he said. The court will hear the petition on Friday, March 15.

Last March 8, the City, through Probe, closed nine branches of Jerome’s Pawnshop & General Merchandise for allegedly violating Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) rules. The nine branches are in Barangays Pasil, Basak San Nicolas, Labangon, Calamba, Sanciangko, Junquera, Lahug and Talamban.

Jerome’s Pawnshop reportedly violated BSP Circular 938 for operating more than 10 branches under a single proprietorship.

According to its Facebook page, Jerome’s Pawnshop has a total of 15 branches spread out in Cebu, Talisay, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu, Consolacion and Minglanilla.

Under the Pawnshop Regulation Act, pawnshop owners are required to register with the BSP before they can start operating.

The pawnshop was investigated by the City Attorney’s Office after the BSP referred to the Office of the Mayor a complaint filed against the pawnshop’s branch on Sanciangko St. for accepting a stolen item and refusing to release it to the owner without payment for the pawned item.

The pawnshop paid business taxes but it does not have a permanent mayor’s business permit, which can only be issued if it was able to secure a BSP clearance, one of the requirements of the City Treasurer’s Office.

Kamagayan Barangay Captain Raquel Avila, the sister-in-law of the owner Jerome Avila, blamed politics for the closure.

Raquel said the mayor is getting back at her family after she refused his invitation to join his party, the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK). Racquel is allied with the opposition group, Barug-PDP Laban. (RVC)

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