BAGUIO City Mayor Benjamin Magalong said establishments operating as bars and gambling fronts will no longer be tolerated after 16 were ordered closed.
"Bawal talaga yun, illegal ang operations nila and we will not tolerate it," Magalong said.
Magalong said the closure of establishments at the public market block 4 area can no longer be tolerated as restaurants continued to operate as bars selling liquor while bingo operations which were formerly given permits.
Bingo stalls were closed and served notices of violations with one located at the hotcake section found to lack permits and another was served a notice and will face closure.
Magalong said initially, the bingo socials were referred by the Liga ng mga Barangay as a project to raise funds, however, the mayor said the groups abused the privilege given to them.
"Na abuso naman ito, naging front na sa ibang illegal gambling activities dyan," Magalong added.
Among the establishments, 13 were eateries operating as bars illegally and were found to violate Tax Ordinance 2000-001 which prohibits the selling or serving of liquor in stalls, booths or stores within the city market.
A lone sari-sari store was closed for operating without permits, a lumpia manufacturer's operations halted for lack of permits as well as unsanitary conditions.
Last week, establishments at the public market were padlocked by the Permits and Licensing Division and Public Order and Safety Division of the City Mayor's Office.
The mayor said the establishments were asked to cease serving liquor but did not heed warnings.
Magalong said bars at the market cannot continue to operate relaying similar establishments at the nearby Maharlika Livelihood Center have also been denied permits because of the ban on selling and serving liquor at the public market peripherals.