EDITORIAL - A repulsive form of dishonesty

If the selling of space rights at the night market is true, then the Cebu City government should launch an immediate investigation into the issue and impose sanctions on those responsible for this illegal transaction.

City Hall should not allow this unscrupulous transaction to blossom and becomes a practice at the night market considering that it is very unfair to others who religiously avail of the slots at the night market.

The city’s market administrator, Jonil Matuguina, had disclosed that many downtown vendors who have availed of night market spaces sold their rights from P5, 000 to P20, 000 per month. This illegal business was discovered two weeks into the operation of Cebu Night Bazaar along Colon Street.

As the city market authority is looking into the matter, it is now verifying the masterlist of registered beneficiaries at the night market and monitoring the actual number of vending individuals to see whether or not there is any discrepancy.

Mayor Edgardo Labella already ordered the City Legal Office to investigate the issue, saying he does not want corruption tainting businesses at the night market, affirming that the vendors are not allowed to sell their spaces.

"We want honest people to be here. There's no room for dishonest people here," said the city mayor, explaining that vendors have the privilege to sell their wares and do not have the right to sell their space rights to others.

The City Legal Office should also look into whether or not market authority personnel are involved in the anomaly. If proven that the selling of rights at the night market has the blessing from market officials, then heads should roll.

The reason why the city government allowed the revival of the night market is for vendors to cash in on the Christmas rush. To take advantage of it by selling their rights to others is such a repulsive form of dishonesty.