Pulupandan Mayor Magdaleno Peña reiterated yesterday his invitation to Integrated Arrastre and Stevedoring Corp. general manager Samson Mondia to personally visit his office for the renewal of their business permit.

Peña said the company’s application for renewal has been held in abeyance due to the opposition raised by barangay captains in Pulupandan.

The barangay leaders are questioning the links of the Mondias with the underground movement and we want Mondia to answer this issue, the mayor said.

It is important for Mondia to personally shed light on the concerns and issues raised in the unanimous petition of the barangay captains so that a possible rational and fair resolution can be reached, Peña said.

He added that he is not inclined to issue a Cease and Desist Order to the arrastre business and he only wants Mondia to personally follow up the application for renewal instead of delegating the responsibility to an accountant.

The arrastre business continues to operate illegally with an expired business permit, Peña said.

Peña said Mondia can bring his legal counsel, Former Gen Raymundo Jarque and Ka Frank Fernandez to their meeting.

Meanwhile, Mondia’s counsel Jovim Entila said the renewal of the business permit of the arrastre company owned by the Mondias is routine work that can be easily handled by the company’s accountant.

He said Mondia has sent a letter to the mayor’s office to follow up their application but the office refused to accept the letter for unknown reasons.

Entila said the alleged link of the Mondias with the underground movement is a simple case of gossip which his clients will not entertain.*NAB

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