• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Three department heads and a sanitary inspector of the Bacolod City government as well as two personnel of the Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP) are facing complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas for alleged violation of Republic Act 3019, also known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, grave abuse of authority and misconduct, and dereliction of duty.
The respondents in the complaints filed by former Councilor Ricardo Tan were Stela Rose Rayos, head of the City Business Permits and Licensing Office; Mericar Ana Parreño, a sanitation inspector; Dr. Ma. Carmela Gensoli, city health officer; Engr. Isidro Sun Jr., head of the Office of the Building Official (OBO); Fire Chief Insp. Stephen Jardeleza; and Senior Fire Officer 2 Myron Gallo.
In a press conference on Wednesday (June 5), Tan said that the filing of criminal and administrative complaints against the respondents stemmed from the granting of business permit to Acebuche Lechon Baboy Stall, denying him the road lot, where his five-door townhouse is located along Burgos Extension Street.
When he acquired the property with two frontages, which is ideal for business purposes, Tan said he decided to shell out additional amount just to obtain the corner lots, which are more expensive.
Unfortunately, “we were deprived of the same since shanties were allowed to occupy the road, hence, denying us of the free use and enjoyment of said road lot”.
Tan further said that he made several complaints with the city government, especially during the time of then President Rodrigo Duterte, who instructed local government units to clear all roads of illegal structure, but the same simply fell on deaf ears.
Worse, it has been observed that these shanties are being used for commercial purposes already, most notable of which is the Acebuche Lechon Baboy Stall, with its imposing structure right at the middle of the road, the former councilor said.
Tan recalled that in 2923, he stressed to Rayos that the structure where the business is located sits on the road lot, and can never to be issued with a business permit, as it is considered a “nuisance per se”.
Despite the assurance of Rayos that she will not recommend the issuance of a business permit since it is illegal structure, Tan said the lechon stall is still operating freely and unhampered, which he later found out to have been issued with a business permit.
He added that the issuance of a business permit in favor of Acebuche was made possible through the indispensable participation of the City Health Office, OBO and BFP.
Tan added that Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez was also misled for the issuance of a business permit in favor of Acebuche. | GB
