Bacolod Permits and Licensing Division head Ardis Jaculina yesterday said she has filed a complaint before the police against Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella for allegedly intimidating her when his team campaigned at City Hall Friday morning.

Jaculina did not issue Phuture Visions Co. Inc., owned by the sons of the solon, a Mayor's permit since what they had applied for was the renewal of their business for "Professional Services, Band/Entertainment Services" at 26th-Lacson streets, Bacolod City, and not for bingo operations at SM City Bacolod in Brgy. 12. When the City Legal Office stopped the company from operating its bingo business at the SM City without a permit, PVI filed a petition for mandamus against the city officials.

The petition was however, dismissed by the Regional Trial Court on March 21, for lack of merit.

The order of the court was issued without prejudice to the petitioners filing an application for a Mayor's Permit, specifically for bingo operation. The PVI, however, has not filed such application until now.

Jaculina said that when the solon came into her office Friday morning, he asked "Do you want me to get the permit myself (for the bingo operation at SM City), since if it is my son who would apply you will not approve it?" She said he talked in a very loud voice while leaning on a table with his right hand on his hip, near the door of her office.

He then asked, "Where is Marissa (the employee who facilitated the claim slip)?" Jaculina said. From there he approached her table and said "Baw, sa kadamodamo permit ginaaprobahan nyo diri, ang sa amon wala nyo gid ginaprobahan (With the many permits you have approved here, it is only our permit which you did not grant)," she said.

"YOU BETTER PRAY"

Jaculina said she told Puentevella that they could not grant them a mayor's permit because they did not file an application for it.

Puentevella then said, "Basta pangadi lang kamo (you better pray)," she added.

Jaculina said she told the solon that she does not need to pray because she is very certain that his family had not applied for a Mayor's Permit to operate the Happy Bingo at SM City-Bacolod in Brgy. 12, Bacolod City.

"What you have is an application form for your business at 26th-Lacson Street," she said she told Puentevella. The application was not for bingo application but for "Professional Services, Band Entertainment Services" with address in Brgy. 5

Jaculina said that when the solon insisted that their application was clean, she asked him to take a look at the data in their computer but he told her there was no need and even repeated "You better pray!"

"THAT'S ENOUGH"

Employees of the Permits and Licensing Division who were present said that while Puentevella was flaring up, his son, Nikki (Monico Jr.), tried to stop him saying, "That's enough, Dad."

Monico Jr. is also a candidate for councilor.

Puentevella later called the explanation of Jaculina part of the political gimmick of the administration to discredit him, especially with the election campaign heating up. However, he believes that his political opponents in City Hall are the ones harassing him, he said.

"How can I harass her when everybody was there and I even shook hands with everybody. I hope they stop all these political gimmickry because I just went there to shake her hands," Puentevella said in an interview over ABS CBN.

He said if they give malice to his visit to City Hall, "May God forgive them because they do not know what they are doing."

UNBECOMING, UNCALLED FOR

Jaculina meanwhile, said what Puentevella did was uncalled for and unbecoming of a public official. She said she could not believe that a person in authority would bully lowly employees that way.

She thought Puentevella would only shake hands since the case involving the bingo outlet at SM City has already been decided by the court, she said, adding that she never imagined that someone who is supposed to be a Christian like him would act that way.

Jaculina said that to them, the actuation of Puentevella could only mean like he is warning them. She said she wants the people to know how the solon treats ordinary employees like her.

Jaculina said that when she told her family about the incident, her children encouraged her to have the incident recorded officially at the Police Precinct since they do not know what may happen to her.

She said she has not decided yet whether she will file a case against the solon or not.

City Legal Officer Allan Zamora said he is willing to provide Jaculina legal assistance if she asks his office. Meanwhile, Zamora said he will be filing charges against Puentevella for the questionable purchase of liquid fertilizer after the Holy Week.*CGS

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