BACOLOD City – The city government is intensifying its drive against fake business permits in coordination with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
Since last year, Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez had been receiving complaints regarding fake business permits, and last week, the authorities launched an operation spurred by a formal complaint filed by a business establishment owner.
Yesterday, Feb. 5, a falsification charge was filed by the NBI at the City Prosecutor’s Office through an inquest proceeding against Jaymoun Oliveros, a staff of a portrait gallery business downtown.
The 25-year-old resident of Barangay Concepcion, Talisay City, Negros Occidental negotiated with an asset until an exchange of money at a mall in Bacolod City on Feb. 3 marked the successful transaction.
Oliveros was allegedly involved in faking driver’s licenses and health cards of the Bacolod City Health Office, among others.
“We will continue the investigation; we will continue our anti-corruption drive to cleanup the city hall,” the local chief executive stressed.
“Ang nadakpan nagkanta na kag nanugid kon sin-o ang mga involved. Revealing nga stories kag halos tanan nga tawo involved from private to employees, ara gid sila kay daw ka glaring nga wala nahadlok sang ila nahimu,” Benitez said.
Through the city government’s “Isugid kay Mayor,” a complainant reported that their business permit was fake. The discovery was made after trying to process a renewal for this year. The complainant said when their business permit’s quick response code, or QR code, was scanned with the Business Permits and Licensing Office, a different establishment’s name appeared.
Records of the City Treasurer’s Office also showed that they failed to pay their last year’s permit, which cost them P7,600 in arrears and P5,600 in penalties. Meanwhile, City Legal Officer Atty. Romeo Carlos Ting Jr. clarified that the entrapment operation is separate from the three city employees who were issued with subpoenas, and the NBI’s investigation into them is still ongoing./PN
