For tax delinquency City to close Kuerks bar

CEBU, Philippines - The City Treasurer’s Office recommended the closure of the controversial Kuerks bar where the incident involving Cebu City Councilor Gerardo Carillo occurred.

Also yesterday, the family of the 16-year-old boy who was seriously hurt allegedly by Carillo has yet to decide on whether they will file charges against the councilor.

Carillo sought the assistance of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)- 7 which will conduct a separate probe on the mauling incident dragging his name.

As for the bar whose vicinity the commotion happened, City Treasurer Emma Villarete told reporters: “We already submitted last Wednesday our report and after the inspection and checking our records, we recommended its closure.”

Grounds for the recommendation for closure include tax delinquency, violation of the Anti-Noise Ordinance and another violation of the Anti-Liquor Ordinance.

City Hall records reveal that Kuerks bar has not renewed its business permit and has not been paying taxes since last year.

The accumulated tax delinquency, Villarete said, was traced to its previous owners.

“Establishments sometimes fail to keep up with the accumulated tax payment.

She added that their office has been recently monitoring the said establishment following a complaint by neighboring GV Tower Hotel.

The hotel’s legal counsel, Atty. Jose Marie Gochangco, wrote the City Government citing inconvenience to its customers caused by loud noise from neighboring Kuerks bar.

Because of this, an inspection was conducted June 1 while another bar, Dark Planet, was also inspected a day earlier.

Mayor Michael Rama said he will review the report and will not hesitate to sign the closure order if he finds it meritorious.

Rama visited the minor at Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) Wednesday evening and spoke with the boy’s relatives.

“I talked to his father and aunt who are both police officers. Their priority is for the boy to recover and wake up,” the mayor said.

Apart from the witnesses’ affidavit, the victim’s accounts will shed light on the investigation confirming or disproving the involvement of Carillo.

“Gusto ko matugkad gyud ang nahitabo,” he said. (I want to know what really happened.)

In the middle of yesterday’s regular press conference, Rama called VSMMC Chief Dr. Gerardo Aquino and asked him to extend extra help in ensuring the victim’s recovery.

He also directed city administrator Atty. Jose Marie Poblete to revive and strengthen the composite monitoring team which will regularly and aggressively enforce legislations and policies, particularly the liquor and noise ordinances.

The NBI will conduct a separate investigation on the incident. Lawyer Renan Oliva, agent on case, told the media yesterday that Carillo requested their office.

“Carillo submitted a letter-request here in the NBI last Wednesday. He personally came here,” he said.

Carillo was accused of hitting the head of a 16-year-old boy with a rock outside the Kuerks restobar in barangay Kamagayan, Cebu City on Sunday at past 3 a.m.

Oliva said their office already sent a letter to Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director Mariano Natu-el requesting for copies of reports of the incident.

“What is important here is we will get into the matter of the issue. If there is evidence, we will file charges against the persons responsible for committing the crime,” he said.

In his letter, Carillo said he was informed that the victim was the brother of a policeman in Cebu City so he asked the NBI to conduct the investigation instead of the Cebu City police to avoid any biases.

The boy is now in stable condition after his operation on the head.

Carillo earlier denied hitting the victim. He said he only pacified a commotion involving two groups of young men. He also denied he was drunk. 

The family of the boy has yet to decide on their legal action, said Natu-el.

SPO1 Jay Yballe, investigator on case, said they went to the hospital yesterday to check if the victim could give a statement but the boy was still sleeping.

Initially, Yballe said, the father was still undecided and the family members have yet to discuss their move.

Natu-el further said they do not have any problem if the NBI will do a parallel investigation.

“We don’t have problem in transferring the case from the Homicide to the NBI but the requesting party must be the victim but if the victim would not agree then wala mi mahimo,” Natu-el said./JPM  (FREEMAN)