Police inspect Makati restaurants

A team of policemen and representatives from the Makati City government conducted a surprise inspection of bars and restaurants late Monday night, following the closure of an establishment that violated the city’s smoking ban.

There were no smokers seen in the establishments at Greenbelt 2 and 3 and Glorietta, as well as those in Barangay Guadalupe Nuevo, during the inspection, but the city government said that the police are closely watching Makati bars and restaurants for violation of City Ordinance 2002-090, a statement from the city government said.

The inspection team in Greenbelt and Glorietta was composed of 15 policemen, led by city police chief Senior Supt. Jovito Gutierrez and personnel from the city’s health department and business inspection division.

The team warned establishment owners to strictly observe the ordinance or face closure, as what had happened to restaurant "12" in Greenbelt 2, which was ordered closed last Friday after a customer formally complained to City Mayor Jejomar Binay that the establishment allowed smoking after 11 p.m.

The customer said that last July 17, he saw the blinds being brought down at the restaurant before patrons were allowed to smoke.

"We are sending notice to everyone that Makati is serious in enforcing the city ordinance banning smoking in enclosed places. We will not hesitate in shutting down establishments that openly defy the ordinance," the statement quoted Binay.

Violation of the ordinance leads to the immediate closure of the establishment.

The ordinance was approved by the city council in February. It bans smoking in enclosed places.

Smoking areas should have floor to ceiling partitions from the rest of the establishments. Establishments with a floor area of less than 100 square meters are "absolutely smoke-free," according to the statement.