Cebu nightclub’s liquor permit suspended after disco party

CEBU CITY –– This city has suspended a bar’s special liquor permit for holding a disco party last week amid restrictions to contain COVID-19.

The City’s Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO), upon the recommendation of the COVID-19 Emergency Operations Center (EOC), has suspended Clubholic Bar’s liquor permit until it converts into a resto-bar.

Clubholic is a nightclub and it needs to be physically changed to become a resto-bar.

“The temporary suspension subsists until such time that changes are made to convert the establishment into a resto-bar instead of a nightclub, to the satisfaction of this office, the Philippine National Police, and the EOC,” said lawyer Jared Limquiaco, officer-in-charge of the BPLO, in his resolution.

Limquiaco said Clubholic could still operate while renovating but would serve only food.

“Only the special permit to serve liquor is suspended,” he said.

Limquiaco said establishments in the city are only allowed to serve and sell liquor, but holding a disco is still prohibited.

He said the city government would give Clubholic a chance to correct its mistakes as part of due process.

“If the establishment commits one more violation, the authorities will be forced to order its closure due to its propensity to disobey the guidelines,” Limquiaco said.

The BPLO, the EOC, and the police investigated the incident last May 14, and issued a resolution on May 18.

The party happened a few days after City Mayor Edgardo Labella lifted the liquor ban in the city as the cases of infection began to slow down and to revive the economy.

The Department of Health in Central Visayas (DOH-7) has reminded the public that gatherings, like discos, are still banned even under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).

“That is a big no-no. We are in MGCQ, but we are discouraging the holding of mass gatherings like discos,” said Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, DOH-7 spokesperson, in a virtual press briefing.

The EOC and BPLO did not identify the establishment, but in a post on Facebook, ClubHolic stated that its management has an appointment with officials of the city government to discuss how to make its service better and to ensure everyone’s safety.

LZB