Court evicts delinquent beer joint inside RMSC

Tito Tholits Grill and KTV, one of the beer joints operating within the premises of the Rizal Memorial Coliseum, was ordered by the court to vacate the government-owned premises for its failure to pay its arrears.

In a four-page decision signed by presiding judge Ma. Theresa Dolores Gomez-Estoesta, the Manila Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 6 also ordered the joint to pay outstanding rental bills amounting to P447,478.22 and water bills of P75,809.11.

Tito Tholits will also have to pay P35,000 for continued use and occupation of the property beginning Feb. 6 and P10,000 for attorney’s fees plus an unspecified amount to pay the cost of suits.

Lawyer Maribel Rodriguez, the Philippine Sports Commission’s legal counsel, said Tito Tholits managed to obtain a temporary injunction for three days that expired Thursday, which gives the agency the right to levy and auction the property of the said joint.

"We’ll auction what was left inside, that’s not even enough to pay everything," said Rodriguez.

She said guards were assigned to watch over the joint to prevent the owners from taking away valuable things in the property.

The move is part of the PSC’s crackdown to rid the age-old sports facility of vices-promoting stores that distract not only the athletes living and training there but also the agency employees.

The PSC, in fact, has attended hearings seeking to also remove beer joints like Mrs. Ts, Zybern and All-Star among others, all reportedly favorite hangouts of some athletes and coaches and even top sports officials.

"It’s still pending, we’re just waiting for the courts to decide," said Rodriguez.

Curiously, Manileno, another beer joint disguising as a massage parlor, was not part of the crackdown reportedly because some owners of the joint were powerful officials of the city.

The beer joints are just some of the stores operating at the Complex fronting

Harrison Plaza that also included Vaciador and a store selling sports items, equipment and uniforms.