Manila Mayor Isko Moreno on Thursday issued a show-cause order to the University of the East - Manila (UE Manila) for defying the city's recent health break from January 14 to 21.

This comes after the UE Manila only chose to suspend classes in the Kindergarten to Grade 12 levels, and not in the tertiary level despite Moreno's order to suspend classes in all levels.

A separate report from UE's online public RedWire unveiled that UE president Ester Garcia said that local chief executives have no authority to suspend classes at the tertiary level.

"Mayors do not have authority to cancel classes at the tertiary level!" the UE President exclaimed as quoted by RedWire.

In response to the reports, the office of the Manila mayor issued a show cause order asking UE why it should not be handed a Cease and Desist Order.

"You are hereby ordered to show a show cause in writing via email at [email protected] within a period of three days from receipt of a copy thereof, and to explain, why Cease and Desist Order should not be issued against your establishment," the order read.

"Failure on your part to answer in writing this Show Cause Order within the said period will be considered as a waiver on your part to be heard and your account shall be dealt with accordingly by the City Government of Manila, through the Bureau of Permits," it added.