LBC has 3 days to comply with notice to hire guards

After sending out notices to LBC branches in Cebu city to hire blue guards or face closure, Mayor Michal Rama said he will go after other business establishments engaged in handling money.

He directed City Legal Officer Jerone Castillo and City Administrator Lucelle Mercado to check the security measures of these entities.

Hiring blue guards should be considered an operational expense, he said.

The mayor said he is asking the City Council to pass an ordinance making this as a requirement for all businesses in the city.

Notices were sent out yesterday directing at least 20 LBC branches doing business in Cebu City to hire blue guards. They have three days to comply with the mayor’s order.

“We will not impose outright closure. We will give them due process,” said City Legal Officer Jerone Castillo.

After they reply in writing, City Hall field personnel will verify their arrangements, he said.

Rama signed yesterday the notices to institute security measures. Field personnel from the City Treasurer’s Office were sent out to deliver the notices.

The notice for LBC Punta Princesa branch which was robbed last month was addressed to company representative Carlos Araneta.

LBC has 33 branches in Cebu City but 13 branches located inside malls and department stores were exempted from Rama’s order.

Meanwhile, Rama complained of a blind item published in a local daily (not CDN) linking him to LBC robbery suspect Leonardo Rama.

He said it was an irresponsible report.

“I know my relatives. Nobody is telling me that Leonardo is my relative,” he said.

Rama said that finding Leonardo is not among the tasks of a city mayor.

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