Loud music during Sinulog: It wasn’t us - Restobar

CEBU, Philippines - The management of Backflip Restobar, the establishment that Cebu City Mayor Tomas R. Osmeña had asked to turn off its music during the Sinulog festivity but reportedly turned back on after the mayor had left, denied it played back loud music that night.

Bar owner Rache Anne Montegrande said in a text message to the FREEMAN that they have a CCTV footage that would contradict the mayor's claim that they turned back on their music.

"Mayor (Osmeña) went to our bar and instructed us to turn it off and, without any doubt, we did.  After a while, there is this bar beside us, namely Howlings Dogs, (that) turned their music loudly.  We were so shocked when he blamed it on us," her text message read.

Claire Cabalda, head of the Cebu City Business Permit and Licensing Office, said Backflip should not open its business yet, after Osmeña disapproved its application.

"Naka-receive mi og application nila and naka receive pud og payment sa ilang business tax due for the year kay na assess-an na sila. However, for signature na unta ang ilang permit pag-Friday but wala pa sila ka comply sa BIR Tax return so, na-suspend ang application," Cabalda said in a phone interview.

However, Backflip, for its part, recently posted on Facebook photos of a business permit issued last January 12 and is valid until December 31, 2017.

Montegrande said they were saddened that their business permit, with a "NO" on the part where the mayor will affix his signature of approval, was posted on Facebook, without letting them explain their side.

"(He) posted our permit on his page without (era-sing) my name, then it floods a lot of sympathy for him and bashes and negative critics on me. Is that how he leads our city?" Montegrande added.

She said that, to avoid penalties and more issues, they would not open their business until they get to talk to the mayor and explain what happened.

"It was like he is leading (by) cyber bullying.  Anyway, we have CCTV footage to prove his accusation is not real," she added. 

Cabalda said she got a notification from Osmeña to disapprove the permit of the restobar.

"Their application is with the mayor kay nangayo si mayor sa whole application nila. So, supposedly dili sila mo-open because they don't have permit pa man," she said.

"Mao to nga iyang  gi-No so, wala gyud sila nakakuha og permit," she added.

On its Facebook page, Backflip said that it already paid P57,586 social amelioration tax from January to November 2016.

Last Sunday, Osmeña ordered the shutting down of the music of Backflip because of the rowdy crowd.

Other business establishments in the city will also have explaining to do after they reportedly defied the mayor's order not to use their parking lots as extension of their dining areas. (FREEMAN)