Mang Inasal restaurant branch found guilty of overpricing food violations (OBO)
Cebu City's Mang Inasal in Hot Water for Illegal Construction
It looks like fast-food chain Mang Inasal is in a spot of trouble; the Office of the Building Official (OBO) has been issuing them slaps on the wrist for encroaching on a sidewalk along Osmeña Blvd. and F. Gonzales St., in Barangay Santo Niño, Cebu City. After multiple notices, the OBO's head, Florante Catalan, endorsed the case to the City Council on June 25, 2025.
As it stands, the OBO doesn't have the authority or the manpower to bring legal action against the restaurant chain – leaving the case in the hands of the City Legal Office (CLO). The CLO, in response, issued a legal opinion recommending a cleaning order to sort out this mess.
During the City Council session, Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera was keen to make sure the incoming officials for the 17th Sangguniang Panglungsod received copies of the notices. According to Catalan, the case is no longer in the OBO's hands, but rather under the legal jurisdiction of the City Legal Office and the Office of the Mayor.
The OBO's crew consists of technical and administrative personnel such as architects, engineers, officers, and aides – but their duties don't extend to legal representation. That job belongs exclusively to the City Legal Office.
Councilor Pastor Alcover Jr. raised concerns about the sidewalk encroachment during a public hearing to discuss Cebu City's Zoning Ordinance. Frustrated by the lack of progress since first raising the issue in 2016, Alcover questioned why Mang Inasal seemed "untouchable" despite years of complaints, forcing pedestrians to walk on the street. Speculations about potential tax evasion followed, since building permits may have been overlooked.
Outgoing Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia has passed the responsibility to deal with this long-standing issue to Acting Mayor Donaldo Hontiveros. However, during their most recent meeting, the Mang Inasal sidewalk encroachment issue wasn't on the agenda. As of now, it remains to be seen whether any legal charges or court cases will ensue or if enforcement will happen through administrative orders.
Sources:- The case is beyond the jurisdiction of the OBO after it was referred to the CLO.- The CLO has issued a legal opinion recommending a cleaning order to address the illegal construction- The Office of the Mayor is involved in overseeing compliance and further action
In short, the illegal construction case against Mang Inasal in Cebu City has escalated, with the OBO ceding control to the City Legal Office due to a lack of legal powers and personnel. The resolution steps now include a review by the CLO, a recommendation of a cleaning order to remove the illegal structures, and likely oversight from the Office of the Mayor. No formal legal charges or court cases have been announced yet, and enforcement through administrative orders appears to be the primary avenue at this stage.
The government body, Office of the Building Official (OBO), no longer has jurisdiction over the illegal construction case against Mang Inasal in Cebu City, as it has been referred to the City Legal Office (CLO) for further action. The CLO has issued a recommendation for a cleaning order to resolve the issue. The Office of the Mayor is also involved in overseeing the enforcement of this order. These developments have escalated the case from a local issue to one involving policy-and-legislation and general news in Cebu's business and politics scene.
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