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Metro Manila Mayor Isko Moreno padlocked Isetann mall Recto, one of the oldest shopping centers in the country, Wednesday afternoon.

Mayor Isko served the closure order and personally locked Isetann’s entrance.

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According to the Bureau of Permits’ memorandum, the mall was closed because of the following grounds:

“Business operation violates any of the existing city ordinances Section 118 of City Ordinance No. 8331 provides that before any person or entity may engage in any business operation, he/she shall secure the necessary permits. In the case of Tri-Union Properties, Inc., it is operating as a lessor without the necessary business permit for the said activity. In the case of Trans-Orient Management Services Inc., it is operating as a Property management Service provider without any necessary business permit for the said activity. In the case of the cinemas, Cinemaworld Cinerama, Inc. has a business permit for only one (1) of four (4) operational cinemas.

Misrepresentation in the application for the permit Misrepresentation of actual business area, and Questionable number of employees.”



Isetann mall representative denied the allegations and sent a photo of the mall’s business permit signed by former Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada, dated January 18, 2019

“We are ready to cooperate with the authorities to shed light on the matter,” the mall’s statement, sent to ABS-CBN News a day before the closure, read.

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Isetann’s management also said they would follow the government’s order to ban the sale of second-hand mobile phones in the said mall.

“Isetann Mall Management has written to the Manila City Government today that in keeping with the instructions of the Honorable City Mayor, the sale of second-hand phones will no longer be allowed at the Isetann Cinerama Complex,” it said.

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