Bizman sues mayor for denying permits

CEBU, Philippines — A businessman has filed a complaint before the Ombudsman against Minglanilla Mayor Rajiv Enad because of alleged “unjustified” denial of the business and other permits asked by their company.

Josue Lapitan said that Mayor Enad violated Section 3 (0) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, stemming from the mayor’s alleged “unjustified and patently willful and unlawful” delay in acting on the numerous letter-requests for the renewal of the various permits of his family business. Later on, he said the Mayor denied these permits.

Sought for comment, Mayor Enad said that he has yet to receive a copy of the complaint.

“If it is about Jomara, then I am confident that the Municipal Government's decisions are above board and are justified. As far as I can remember, the Jomara Companies has had problems with its compliances and obligations both with the Local Government and National Agencies. Rest assured, we will respond to the complaint accordingly,” Enad said.

Lapitan is the owner of the Jomara Group of Companies, which included Jomara Konstruct Corporation, Jomara Agrifoods and Supply Corporation and Mega Pacific Landfill Resources Corporation.

He said that Enad also violated Section 3(a) of R.A. 3019 for persuading, inducing or influencing Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia to deny the quarry application filed by Lapitan's family business corporations on “fabricated and untruthful grounds.”

Lapitan, however, admitted his wife's nephew Francis Gerald "Jigger" Cañedo ran for Minglanilla mayor in 2022.

“The acts perpetrated against my family businesses can only be seen as an actuation of retaliation and vengeance on the part of the mayor," Lapitan stressed.

But Enad explained that if the complaint has something to do with its Goat Farm and Motorpool in Sitio Napo, barangay Guindarohan, the ground cracks are observed and that the considerations of the municipality are safety and protection of the lives and property of the residents within the close proximity of the area.

It was recommended that the company transfer to another safer area, Enad said.

The landfill business was also marred by a petition from the residents of Barangay Manduang because according to them the water from the river, which they used to wash clothes, have turned brown.

Lapitan, on the other hand, is asking the Ombudsman to preventively suspend Enad because the evidence he has against the mayor is strong that there was malice in denying the business permits.

“Due to the propensity of Mayor Enad to influence witnesses and pose a threat to the integrity of records and other pieces of evidence, it is most respectfully prayed that an order commanding the immediate preventive suspension of the mayor be issued, pending the outcome of the investigation to be conducted by the Office of the Ombudsman Cebu," Lapitan further said. — (FREEMAN)