City to close Vic Enterprises’ 12 warehouses, store today
Not convinced with Vic Enterprises’ explanation, the Cebu City government has served the closure order against the establishment’s 12 warehouses and one store.
Mayor Tomas Osmeña announced in his press conference yesterday that the city’s Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification, and Enhancement (PROBE) team and representatives of City Legal Office will implement the closure order today.
“Because correcting deficiencies does not erase the crime. And many of their warehouses up to now do not have a permit. So, the intent to defraud the government is very clear,” he told reporters.
Vic Enterprises received the closure order yesterday.
In the order, Osmeña said several complaints of private individuals were confirmed by the reports from the Cebu City Transportation Office and the Cebu City Environmental and Natural Resources Office.
Sought for comment, a staff of Vic Enterprises, who asked not to be named, said all warehouses and its store in Barangay Mabolo have been closed already.
She said that they will transfer all transactions in their main branch in Mandaue City.
The mayor said the establishments of Vic Enterprises in Barangay Mabolo allegedly have been violating numerous traffic rules as well as environmental regulations.
“Foregoing premises considered and in the interest of public safety and welfare, your business establishments are hereby ordered closed without prejudice to the filing of appropriate civil, criminal, and/or administrative charges against the persons responsible for these violations,” reads a portion of the order.
“Finally, this serves to inform you that any deliveries made within the City of Cebu by your own business establishments located outside of the city are deemed as doing business within the city and thus, a business permit would be required therefore,” it added.
The mayor said the city government will confiscate all deliveries made by the Vic Enterprises within the City of Cebu.
At 10 a.m., yesterday, PROBE Head Raquel Arce said she has served the 24-hour notice to vacate.
“We will implement the closure order at 10 a.m. (today) kay 24-hour notice man. But some of the warehouses kay sirado na gyud, which means ni-comply sila sa atong notice,” she said.
Arce said the city will still implement the closure order today by posting the notice that the establishment and the warehouses are closed.
Osmeña said he was not convinced by the explanation of Vic Enterprises in its reply of the city’s show cause order.
He said the company has committed several violations that include: Not paying the right taxes to the city government; no business permits for some warehouses; dust pollution; traffic violations, among others.
“I cannot have the situation that all you have to do is say I’m sorry and pay and you’ll be allowed to operate again. I cannot run the city like that because people will not believe you,” he said, adding that forgiving tax evaders is not a good management policy.