Resto bar ordered closed anew

CEBU, Philippines - Mayor Tomas Osmeña has ordered the re-closure of the controversial Bakak Resto-Bar along Pelaez Street after the city found out the establishment resumed operations even without permits and clearances.

“Just have it closed kay samok kaayo…close na lang kay they don’t know how to follow the law,” Osmeña said.

In a recent visit to the establishment, personnel of the City Treasurer’s Office learned that aside from not having official papers to legitimize its operations, the establishment also widened its area and was very noisy.

“Gipadak-an pa ilang imnanan, saba pa gyud kaayo, pero wala gyo’y napakita nga klarong permit,” said one of the CTO personnel who inspected Bakak.

Osmeña yesterday ordered city attorney Joseph Bernaldez to prepare the closure order, although Bernaldez said later there is actually no need to issue another closure order because the order issued earlier has not been lifted.

He, nevertheless, said he will prepare the new closure order. Bernaldez said the establishment may face sanctions for defying the first closure order.

The city learned that aside from not having a special permit to sell and serve liquor, Bakak also did not display the official mayor’s permit. Bakak also allegedly continued to sell and serve alcoholic beverages to students during class hours since the resumption of its operation.

Yesterday, Osmeña admitted that he agreed for the resto bar to open, but he reportedly did not agree that the establishment would sell and serve liquor, especially to minors.

It was reportedly a city councilor who sent a written notice to Bakak that the mayor has already granted its request to resume operations. Osmeña, however, refused to name the city councilor.

In a related development, a Toyota Camry bearing plate number YAB 500 rammed into the establishment yesterday morning, damaging the flower pots and the round bar of Bakak’s extended tint.

The driver, Brixcy Shane Yu, an 18-year-old student, said she was just parking her car, but was surprised that it rammed into the bar and even bumped a Honda CRV parked nearby.

The Honda CRV with plate number YFX 741 is owned by Edwin Abaya.

Traffic enforcer Robert Sarona said it is possible that Yu had stepped on the accelerator instead of the break, which caused the vehicle to go wayward.

Fortunately, the establishment was closed during the incident, thus, no one was hurt. – Elly T. Bolonos/JMO   (FREEMAN NEWS)