City treasurer says: Korean resto ‘failed’ to renew biz permit

CEBU, Philippines - The Korean restaurant owned by the couple and their daughter who were killed by an in-law allegedly failed to renew its business permit, The FREEMAN learned yesterday.

Records at the Lapu-Lapu City Treasurer's Office show that Han Ga Wi Restaurant failed to renew its business permit this year although it made a payment for the two quarters this year.

The said Korean restaurant allegedly operated using a corporation wherein most of the incorporators are Filipinos.

City Treasurer Elenita Catagcatag said she will look into the actual operations of the said restaurant in question.

Mayor Paz Radaza when asked by reporters said she made an instruction to Catagcatag to closely monitor the operations of Korean restaurant.

Radaza said they received reports that most of these Korean restaurants change incorporators and also  the name of the establishment every two years.

Catagcatag said they will issue business permits once all the documents presented are in order.

Meanwhile, Catagcatag said they intensified their monitoring of the compliance of different business and industrial establishment on paying their tax obligations to the city.

Catagcatag issued the statement to downplay speculations that they are singling out Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority in their aggressive tax collection campaign.

To recall, Catagcatag recently sent a demand letter to the airport authority asking it to pay in full the alleged unpaid P1.7 billion worth of property taxes.

Catagcatag said every year they send a demand letter to all business and industrial establishments if their records will show that they failed to pay their obligations.

Mayor Radaza said she instructed Catagcatag to intensify the collections of taxes saying they need funds to implement the priority projects under her administration.

The Lapu-Lapu City Police Office has identified Kim Se Wong as the one allegedly killed his wife Young Mi An and in laws Ho An and wife Kim Soonok.

He was arrested at the second floor of the building in Barangay Maribago where the restaurant is located. He was found with wounds on both wrists and was rushed to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center for treatment.

A knife believed to be used in the killing was also found at the crime scene. (FREEMAN)