BACOLOD CITY – The city government revoked the business permit and closed a junk shop on Mabini St., Barangay 25 here on Thursday, July 6, after the establishment yielded P14.7-million worth of stolen batteries owned by two telecommunications companies on June 29. Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez led a team from the city government when they served the notice to a staff of DLC Junk Shop for violation of the conditions of the business permit issued to the establishment, including apparent misrepresentation made by the junk shop with regards to the operation of the establishment. The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) initially reported an estimated P15.1-million worth of stolen batteries but after an inventory of the items, these were valued at P14.7 million.
THE city government serves a notice of revocation of business permit and closure to DLC Junk Shop in Barangay 25, Bacolod City on Thursday, July 6, after P14.7 million in stolen telco batteries were recovered on June 29. (Photo courtesy of Bacolod PIO) A notice signed by Benitez stated that the business permit issued to the establishment by the Business Permit and Licensing Office was to operate as a junk shop. However, when the Environment and Natural Resources Office (ENRO) and the Permits and Licensing Office conducted a spot inspection at the premises on Tuesday, July 4, piles of used batteries were discovered. The notice said that when owner Dennis L. Coo applied for ENRO clearance, he executed an affidavit stating that "A. As Junk Shop we only buy junk metals; B. That we do not buy hazardous waste such as use lead acid batteries, etc." Police recovered a substantial cache of 136 units of telco batteries valued at P13.2 million from the storage facility of DLC Junk Shop and 15 units of 12 volts 180AH batteries worth P1.5 million. The inspection report stated that to engage in battery recycling process, the establishment should have secured an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) or Certificate of Non-Coverage (CNC) and Hazardous Waste Generator Registration Certificate from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Environmental Management Bureau (EMB). But the DLC Junk Shop did not have these documents when asked to show them during the inspection. The report said that the establishment was not authorized nor given any permit to operate as a storage facility of potentially hazardous materials. Charges for violating the anti-fencing law have been filed by an owner of the batteries against Dennis, his brother and co-owner Daniel, Rammely Abaring, manager, and Rodimar Juaneza, a security guard, the Bacolod City Police Office said. Police Lt. Col. Sherlock Gabana, officer-in-charge of Mobile Patrol Unit that led the operation, said that Abaring supervises the daily operations of the junk shop and caters to clients since Daniel is based in Manila. Gabana said that Daniel is the real owner of the junk shop but because he is based outside this city, the business permit was named under his older brother Dennis. The BCPO is still awaiting additional criminal complaints to be filed by the other owner of the batteries against the suspects. Suspects have yet to comment on their case. Meanwhile, three persons have been arrested and charged for robbery in relation to the batteries taken from a cell site in Mabinay, Negros Oriental on June 28. Their five companions, who are at large, have been identified, but police have yet to release their names. Gabana said the group’s leader was an alleged former employee of a telco firm. The suspect has a robbery case in Cauayan, Negros Occidental and currently on probation. He believes that this group is considered syndicated but they don’t have a financier.