Court junks pawnshop’s case vs city government

CEBU, Philippines —  The Regional Trial Court has dismissed the civil case filed by the owner of Jerome’s Pawnshop against the city government after the complainant withdrew the complaint.

“On motion of the petitioner himself through his counsel and there being no counter-claim sets forth in the respondent’s answer, the above-entitled case is hereby ordered dismissed,” reads the order penned by Judge Anacleto Debalucos.

Avila earlier sued former mayor Tomas Osmeña and office of the Prevention, Restoration, Order and Beautification Enhancement (PROBE) to stop the city government from shutting down nine branches of his pawnshops in the city.

The pawnshops, however, were shut down even before the filing of the case.

The city government earlier ordered the closure of all branches of Jerome’s Pawnshop in Cebu City because of its alleged failure to possess a license to operate from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas as required under Presidential Decree NO. 114.

City Attorney Rey Gealon said the dismissal of the case means that the owner of the pawnshop may now comply with the requirements for them to secure a business permit.

“For now, there is no case to speak of. What remains as of the moment is whether or not they have complied with the requirements for the issuance of business permits,” he told The FREEMAN.

Gealon said the marching order of Mayor Edgardo Labella with regards to the issuance of business permits remains that all requirements must be complied with.

Atty. Carlo Vincent Gimena, handling lawyer of the case, said it is now the duty of the Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO) of the city to evaluate or determine whether or not Jerome’s Pawnshops has complied with all the requirements to warrant the issuance of business permits which are necessary or indispensable requirement to operate.

Gimena said the BPLO will make the appropriate recommendations to Labella who has the discretion whether or not to approve the business permit applications for 2019.

Labella already said that he wants to have a business-friendly atmosphere in the city government under his administration. — FPL (FREEMAN)