Tom turns down Halo bar's appeal

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña rejected the appeal of the owners of Halo Disco Bar to have the bar reopened, saying its closure did not only stem from failure to pay business tax to the city but also for its lack of "social responsibility."

"We should put attention to our youth. But the way they're operating, it's mercenary. As long as they're making money, they don't care about the youth, their safety and wellbeing. They just don't care about their social welfare. And it's not acceptable. We'll keep it closed," Osmeña told reporters yesterday. The mayor said he has yet to receive the letter of apology sent by the owners to his office, indicating therein their non-awareness of their business' non-compliance to the building and business permits, thinking that the management already complied and paid all tax dues.

He, however, said that such "is not an excuse", emphasizing further that his interest is on the overall wellbeing of the community. "It borders on decadence - serving liquor to minors, lewd acts, overcrowded, their safety is threatened and it appears their interest is only in making money," the mayor said. He said these were the reasons why he had assigned policemen within the vicinity of the bar during weekends, just like what the city is doing to Vudu disco bar at Crossroads entertainment complex in Banilad. Last May, the mayor suspended the P1,000 monthly allowance given by the city government to three special police units in Cebu for failing to heed his instruction to deploy a patrol car in Crossroads especially during weekends and holidays to maintain peace and order in the area as brawls often occur in the bars there.

"We are not a police state but they should have a social responsibility because many parents want to see whether their children are safe where they go out during nighttime. And that's also my responsibility," the mayor said.

After the establishment's closure for presenting a falsified public document and business permit, and for failure to pay its business tax obligations in the last three years, the mayor said he would no longer allow Halo to re-open even if it would be able to comply with all the requirements.

When asked yesterday if it would be allowed to operate under a new management, he said, "Let them try." - Cristina C. Birondo