KANANGA, Leyte — An entrepreneur in Carmen, Cebu, has filed charges of grave misconduct and graft against the town’s mayor, accusing him of refusing to renew his business permit and ordering the closure of his establishment.
Richard Rendal Sarad, a resident of Barangay Cogon East and owner of RJ and MJ Merchandise, claimed that Mayor Carlo Villamor unjustly denied the renewal of his permit, even though he has complied with all municipal requirements.
His business, which involves rice and corn sales, and an eatery, had previously been issued permits in 2019, 2020 and 2021 without any problems.
Sarad said that the issue began in 2022 when the mayor’s office refused to renew his business permit, despite his fulfillment of all the requirements listed by the municipal treasurer’s office.
The denial, he said, continued through 2023 and 2024, even after he had paid back taxes and processed the necessary documents.
On May 15, Sarad received a cease-and-desist order from the mayor’s office, which led to the closure of his business.
When he inquired about the denial in June, Villamor’s office reportedly responded that the application lacked a lessor’s permit, which Sarad claimed was not listed among the required documents by the treasurer’s office.
Sarad argued that Villamor’s refusal to issue the permit caused financial harm to him and his employees, describing the mayor’s actions as oppressive and harmful to his livelihood.
Sarad, with legal assistance from lawyer Julius Caesar Entise, has since filed criminal and administrative complaints against Villamor with the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas.
The charges include violations of Republic Act (RA) 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act; RA 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees; and several provisions of the Administrative Code of the Philippines, citing oppression, grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to public service.
In response to the allegations, Villamor posted a statement on Facebook on Tuesday, where he emphasized that as mayor, it was his responsibility to ensure that businesses complied with all requirements before issuing permits.
He said that Sarad’s application lacked not only a lessor’s permit but also a building permit, among other missing documents.
The mayor clarified that the town’s Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO) found that Sarad’s documentation was incomplete, which justified the denial of the permit.
Villamor also noted that in August, the BPLO had begun reviewing all businesses in the town to ensure compliance, and he assured that the office was open to address any concerns.
He expressed confidence that the allegations would be properly addressed and pointed out that the people of Carmen were witnesses to his administration’s services.
Last October 5, Villamor filed his certificate of candidacy for reelection as mayor.
