As response to the criminal case being pursued by the Office of the Ombudsman at the Sandiganbayan in connection with the May 13, 2015 Kentex factory fire, Valenzuela City Mayor  REX Gatchalian is ready to post preemptive bail for him and other city officials.

The parties were charged for allegedly committing reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicides and multiple physical injuries for issuing business permit to Kentex Manufacturing Corporation in 2015.

Gatchalian, however, hopes that the Sandiganbayan will consider the efforts of Valenzuela City and other LGUs in making doing business in the Philippines easier and to raise our rank in global competitiveness. This is also in light of the issuance of the new Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) 2016-01 by the Departments of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Information and Communications Technology (DICT) which reinforces the essence of the DILG-DTI JMC 2010-01 previously issued in 2010, the DILG MC 2011-05, and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Memorandum dated September 24, 2012, collectively known as “The Robredo Circulars”, the bases of the city in implementing its business permits and licensing system (BPLS) streamlining.

National Competitiveness Council (NCC) co-chairman for the private sector, Mr. Guillermo Luz said during the signing of the new JMC that 75 percent of the LGUs across the country has complied with the 2010 circular.

“We are not just defending ourselves in this case,” Gatchalian said, “we are also acting in defense of our anti-graft and corruption program, the 3S Plus, and the practice of almost all of the nation’s LGUs who are merely acting in compliance with the issued JMCs.”

Gatchalian shall avail all appropriate legal remedies under our laws to defend himself and the other city officials involved.

Valenzuela City’s 3S Plus in Public Service Program has garnered several awards from numerous reputable award-winning institutions. Valenzuela City was one of the LGUs studied by the national agency for drafting the new JMC.

Earlier in May of this year, Gatchalian has secured an indefinite injunction from the Court of Appeals, allowing him to run for re-election that he seized via landslide victory.