Bar shut down

CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama has ordered the closure of an entertainment bar in barangay Banilad for reportedly staging lewd and indecent shows.

In a Closure Order dated June 11, 2013, Rama found sufficient basis to terminate the operations of Cheetah Bar and Restaurant which was monitored by members of the Cebu City Anti-Indecency Board (CCAIB).

“Any officer of the law is hereby directed to enforce the closure order and to make a return thereof to this office within five days from its implementation,” Rama said in the order.

Dr. Lucelle Mercado, CCAIB chairperson, said they earlier requested representatives of the entertainment bar to present their side but found their explanation as “not meritorious.”

“There is a huge difference between entertainment and indecency. The shows inside this bar were really indecent,” she said.

Mercado admonished other establishments which feature similar shows to stop the indecent activities or they shall likewise get closed.

“CCAIB will be around and vigilant in doing our mandate. We are monitoring similar establishments in the city. If you can’t stop your indecent operations, then get out of Cebu. We will not tolerate those kind of activities,” she said.

Assistant City Prosecutor Aida Sanchez, also a member of CCAIB, said they decided not to file criminal charges against owners of the entertainment.

“In filing charges, we usually just go after the small people. We pity them. Instead, we decided to go for the closure of the entire establishment,” she said./REPORTER ADOR VINCENT S. MAYOL