Pyro trader mulls raps vs. city government

CEBU, Philippines - The camp of businessman Brian Lim, owner of Pyroworks Pyrotechnic Perfection, is mulling filing a case for grave abuse of authority against Mayor Michael Rama for the destruction of P3 million worth of pyrotechnics earlier seized for being sold in an undesignated area.

Lim’s lawyer, Noel Archival, said he is only awaiting the decision of his client to go on with the filing.

Grave abuse of authority will be filed against Rama and the police for destroying the pyrotechnic devices without the knowledge of the owner and permission from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Archival said that the permission of the DENR is needed because the devices contain toxic substances that can be dangerous to public health if not handled properly.

The lawyer also believes that since the confiscation of the products was done on the basis of an ordinance and resolution, the city government should have filed a case against his client first. The judge will then be the one to decide if the destruction of the devices is necessary.

Prior to the destruction, Archival said that the police should have invited the owner to witness the destruction. This is to make sure that everything was destroyed and none of the devices were stolen or hoarded to be sold again.

He also said it would have been better if the mayor just allowed his client to donate the products to the city government for a fireworks show during the Sinulog celebration.

Rama, in a news conference yesterday, said that he is ready to face the charges that might be filed against him by Lim.

“I have my legal office that will have to take care if there are charges to be filed. I was only exercising what I ought to do,” Rama said.

Rama also said he does not believe that Lim was not aware of the resolution which banned the sale of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices in the sidewalks or anywhere outside the designated firecracker zone.

City fire marshal Aderson Comar said that Lim was present during their meeting held in the last week of November where the latter allegedly had a presentation on the firecracker zone at the South Road Properties.

Lim was designated as the point person for the firecracker zone.

Comar said that the meeting was held at the office of Councilor Augustus Pe and was attended by the BFP, the City Treasurer’s Office and Lim among others.

The resolution was discussed and made clear during the meeting that no firecrackers and pyrotechnics must be sold outside the SRP, Comar said.

Last Sunday, Cebu City south district Rep. Tomas Osmeña accused the mayor of bullying Lim for not giving him a warning before the products were destroyed.

Osmeña said that Lim was not aware of the violation he committed so he is entitled to a warning.

Rama said that he is not worried if Lim will stop donating fireworks to the city for the Sinulog Festival.

He said that through the years that Lim has been donating free fireworks shows for the Sinulog, the latter’s business is also earning free exposure.

“There’s no such thing as ‘pamoyboy’ if you earned exposure. If he will stop donating, we will pay. Why not?” Rama said. —BRP (FREEMAN)