Coping Fernandez as Abella replacement
Coping is a veteran legislator, serving the city council for several terms
ACebu City Treasurer’s Office insider told me that the management of Rico’s Lechon has already complied with all the requirements to get a business permit and has paid the taxes. In fact, it has been issued a tax certificate that shows it has no more tax liabilities to the city government. In view or this development, let us see if the “former political has-been,” who is the final approving authority, approves Rico’s Lechon’s business permit application.
Rico’s Lechon’s branch along Escario St. and its commissary in Talamban were ordered closed by City Hall last month for lack of business permits. But this was only after Rico Dionson, the original owner, and Bea Villegas-Osmeña, wife of the “former political has-been’s” son, Miguel, severed their business partnership. Rico’s Lechon actually has pending business permit applications before but because of bureaucratic red tape at City Hall, their approval were delayed.
The “former political has-been” has been saying that even if Rico’s Lechon complies with the business permit requirements, he would not issue permits. Later, he said that he wants to “get rid” of the business permits because the long list of requirements discourages businessmen from investing in the city. He wants to make it simpler by just requiring establishment owners to comply with few requirements and for as long as they pay their taxes.
Aber, atong tan-awon kun iya bang paabrihan ang Rico’s Lechon. Kompleto na gud ang mga papeles, pun-an pa sa iyang pamahayag nga minusan na ang requirements sa business permit application basta mobayad lang og buhis ang aplikante. “Let’s see the scattered” (tan-awon nato ang katag) kung iya ba gyud ning tinud-on.
If there is one person highly qualified and is a right replacement for south district Councilor Hanz Abella once he takes his oath as commissioner of the 7th National Labor Relations Commission (NLCR), it is no other than former councilor Procopio “Coping” Fernandez.
Team Rama is the one that will recommend Abella’s replacement because the latter was with Team Rama when he filed his certificate of candidacy in last year’s election. He joined BOPK only late last year. The recommendation shall be approved by the Office of the President. The replacement will serve Abella’s unexpired term.
Coping is a veteran legislator, serving the city council for several terms. He started his political career in the late ‘80s when he ran and won in the first election after the Edsa revolution. He was one of the so-called “Big Four” opposition councilors during the first term of the “former political has been.” The others were the late Clemente Rama, June Kintanar and Pureza Oñate.
Fernandez, a lawyer, authored several ordinances including the creation of the Cebu City Traffic Management Office and the Police Coordinating and Advisory Council (PCAC). A known Team Rama stalwart, he is currently one of the board of directors of the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD).