The owner of the Happy Bingo at SM City Bacolod that was padlocked by the city for lack of a Mayor's Permit, yesterday said they respect the decision of the Court and will study what legal action to take.

However, Claude Puentevella, a son of Rep. Monico Puentevella, said, they stand firm that they have applied for a business permit.

The Regional Trial Court dismissed for lack of merit the petition for mandamus filed by his company, Phuture Visions Co. against the city officials of Bacolod City for implementing the closure order.

In his 17-page decision dated March 20, RTC Judge Ramon Delariarte said the petitioner has no right to operate bingo games at SM Bacolod because it does not have a Business Permit and has not paid the assessment for bingo operation. Hence, he said, the city acted lawfully in stopping his bingo operation on March 2 and closing its establishment.

The order was issued without prejudice to the petitioners filing an application for Mayor's permit specifically for bingo operation.

During a press conference yesterday, Puentevella said the Court did not see the bigger picture that what is happening is not about business, but political. "If it were not election time, this would not have happened," he said.

Another son, Brian Puentevella, said that if they were not the children of Congressman Monico Puentevella their business would not have been padlocked.

Claude said they wanted to seek justice from the Court because they believe they will not be given a permit for bingo operation by the city since, he claimed, it was already promised to a favored operator.

Nikki Puentevella, also another son, said they are victims of political harassment.

Claude said the city could have helped them if there were problems with their papers. He said their father is not involved in the business, when asked about the solon's reaction to the Court's decision.

Meanwhile, in his decision, Delariarte said the Mayor's Office had already decided and released a Business Permit for "Professional Services, Band/Entertainment Services" dated Feb. 19, 2007 to Puentevella. However, he said it cannot reasonably expect to receive a Mayor's Permit for "bingo operations" unless and until it files a new application specifically for bingo operations, submit the necessary requirements, and pay the corresponding assessment.

Delariarte also stated in his decision that the court does not have the power to compel the mayor to grant or deny the issuance of a business permit for a bingo operation on the basis of a "falsified/altered application."

Meanwhile, Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia, in interviews after the closing of the bingo establishment, stressed that he would close any business in the city, even if it were owned by his own siblings, if it did not have the required business permit.

He also said that, aside from the tampered application also noted by the judge, the address of the company in it was in Brgy. 5, while SM, where the bingo operations were to take place, is located in Brgy. 12.*CGS

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