THE Mandaue City Government decided to close Club Hatchi and Sentral Bar and Lounge for committing several violations.
Personnel from the City Legal Office and Mandaue City Police Office, as well as barangay officials, served the closure orders on the two establishments last night.
Both bars were already closed when the closure order was served. A supervisor of Sentral received the order but declined to issue a statement. A cashier of Club Hatchi signed the order when it was served.
Mandaue City Legal Officer Omar Redula said that the management of Club Hatchi and Sentral were given a chance to explain why they should not be closed after a show-cause order was served, but their justification wasn’t enough.
Last Jan. 23, a show-cause order was served on Club Hatchi, Sentral and MO2 Restobar after City Hall found out that they had violated some rules during the Sinulog celebration.
Redula said that his office recommended the closure of Club Hatchi and Sentral, and that they sent their recommendation to the mayor’s office last Wednesday. He said that MO2’s case will be studied further.
“They (entertainment bars) are a threat to public safety and public welfare,” said Redula, who cited several incidents of physical injuries in both Club Hatchi and Sentral.
As to public welfare, the City Government received several complaints about the noise that these two establishments caused.
For Sentral, lawyer James Allan Sayson of the Mandaue City Government said that the establishment clearly violated a city ordinance on securing special permits.
After the mayor had denied their application for a special permit for a Sinulog event, City Hall found out that Sentral, which belongs to the mayor’s first cousin, continued to hold a “mini foam party.”
According to the closure order, Sentral also violated the Fire Code, which sets limits on the safe number of occupants per establishment.
The City’s lawyers also learned in an investigation that there was an increase in incidents from November to December last year in Sentral, based on records of the Mandaue City Police Office.
As to Club Hatchi, Sayson said at least 39 percent of the 66 incidents in the bar from last year to January this year involved the owner, bouncers, and security guards.
According to Club Hatchi’s closure order, these incidents involving the employees were enough justification for the closure of the establishment, in the interest of public safety and welfare. Several complaints also reached City Hall about the loud noise from Club Hatchi.
“While Club Hatchi may seek refuge in the fact that they were issued a business permit as a bar, disco house and live band (venue), they must not use the business permit to shield themselves from the responsibility of maintaining peace and harmony in the community,” the order read.
Sayson said that the employees can visit the City Legal Office so they will be referred to the Public Employment and Services Office or undergo training.