Liloan mayor faces contempt charges

LILOAN Mayor Vincent Franco “Duke” Frasco is facing charges of indirect contempt for allegedly defying a court order to issue a Mayor’s Permit to a slipway firm operating in his town.

The Regional Trial Court Branch 16 in Cebu City issued an injunction order mandating Frasco to issue a Mayor’s Permit to Michael Slipways Inc. and allow the company to continue operating the slipway business.

However, Frasco allegedly declined to heed the court order.

Hammurabi Bugtai, the municipal business permit and license inspector of Liloan, was also named respondent of the indirect contempt charges.

The petitioner earlier filed a civil case against the Municipality of Liloan and its mayor.

The court issued last August a writ of preliminary injunction that ordered the release of a Mayor’s Permit to the company for it to continue operating its business.

The petitioner, however, said he was asked to comply with some requirements.

The requirements include payment of local taxes, fees, securing various clearances from government entities and presentation of a sanitary permit to the Municipal Health Office.

The company complied with the requirements except for the sanitary permit, which is reportedly not a condition stated in the Writ of Injunction issued by the court.

The petitioner learned from Luzviminda Vallente of the Municipal Health Office that a sanitary permit is not a requirement for the issuance of the Mayor’s Permit.

The petitioner said Frasco and Bugtai should be held liable of indirect contempt for disobedience or resistance to a lawful writ. Ador Vincent Mayol, Reporter