City Hall orders closure of politician’s coffee shops

SIX of nine Coffee Dream branches in Cebu City were ordered closed for operating without business permits for this year, a matter that businessman and politician Glenn Anthony Soco said stemmed only from miscommunication.

A report from the Cebu City Treasurer’s Office dated October 8 said branches in Ayala Center Cebu, Escario Street, Paseo Arcenas, Cebu Doctors’ Hospital (CDH) and two in SM City Cebu failed to submit their books for examination and did not have Mayor’s Business Permits for 2013.

City Attorney Jerome Castillo issued closure orders on October 10.

The orders were received by the management of the six branches last October 21 and 23.

City Treasurer Diwa Cuevas said two notices were sent to the establishments, as well as a final demand and a show cause order. The management failed to respond, she said.

Soco, owner of the coffee shops said he was not aware of the notices and demand letters sent. What he saw was the closure order last Wednesday for one branch. When their accountants went to City Hall, he learned the situation was the same for the other branches. Soco run for vice governor in 2010 and 2013.

“This is plainly a case of oversight and miscommunication. We are willing to fulfill necessary requirements to regularize everything,” he said.