By JEAN FERNANDO
The Taguig City government ordered Friday the immediate closure of a popular disco bar at the Bonifacio Global City, following the stabbing and serious wounding of a customer by a club habitué and the alleged escape of the suspect in connivance with three employees.
Taguig City Business Permits and Licenses Office head Jeff Minglana said the Embassy Super Club and Embassy Cuisine at the Fort Strip will remain closed “until such time that a full investigation on the incident by proper authorities is conducted and completed.”
Minglana said he was directed by Mayor Sigfrido Tinga to serve the closure order on the club based on the complaint of the stabbing victim.
Minglana said the stabbing happened in the premises of Embassy Cuisine at about 1:30 a.m. last Tuesday, Aug. 18. The alleged connivance between the bouncers and the suspect reportedly facilitated the escape of the assailant.
Taguig police chief, Sr. Supt. Camilo Cascolan, said the victim was a 34-year-old businessman whose name was withheld for security reasons. His alleged attacker was identified as a certain “Kilikan Jimenez.”
Cascolan said that before the stabbing, a friend of the businessman reportedly figured in a quarrel with Jimenez.
In the ensuing confrontation, Jimenez allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed the victim, hitting him in the body and back.
The bouncers reportedly took the victim out of the establishment through the front door. Taguig policemen who were stationed outside the establishment took him to the Makati Medical Center where he had to undergo operation.
Gilbey Gallart Loganera, investigating security officer of the Bonifacio Estate Services Corp., said accounts given by security men detailed in the area pointed to Embassy bouncers Gilbert Rempis, Joven Bantique, and Gilbert Battung as the ones who facilitated the escape of Jimenez through the club’s back door.
Cascolan said policemen from the Police Community Precinct 7, which has jurisdiction over the area, were allowed to stay only outside Embassy’s premises.
UPDATE!!
(8:21 a.m., August 24)
SPOT.ph just received the Official Statement of Embassy Cuisine from co-owner and PR Tim Yap denying earlier reports that their bouncers connived to facilitate the escape of the suspect Kilikan Jimenez through their back door:
“An untoward incident involving certain patrons of EMBASSY CUISINE which occurred last 18 August 2009 is currently being investigated by officers of the Philippine National Police (PNP) – Taguig City.
Contrary to certain allegations which have been published and reported in media, the management of, and security personnel engaged by, Cuisine did not allow, assist in, facilitate nor condone the immediate departure from the premises of any of the parties involved in the incident. In the said incident, the management and security personnel of Cuisine faithfully observed and implemented the proper security procedure, immediately sought the assistance of the PNP officers assigned to the area, and promptly endorsed the matter and parties involved to the PNP officers for the taking of appropriate legal action. The management of Cuisine did not and will not tolerate the evasion by any party of legal liability, and is presently extending its full cooperation to the PNP-Taguig City in the latter’s investigation of the incident.
The management of Cuisine wishes to assure its patrons that it remains committed to providing them an entertainment venue where their safety and enjoyment are of the utmost importance.”
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