PNP: Take liquor ban seriously, or face stiff penalty

Don't take the election liquor ban lightly. The Philippine National Police (PNP) issued this advice Friday to Filipinos as it prepares to implement the ban on Sunday and Monday. "(Violators) will face sanctions upon arrest. Penalties include one to six years' imprisonment, and they may lose their right to run for public office and the right to suffrage," PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina said in an interview on dwIZ radio. He said the 130,000-strong PNP, which went on full alert last Wednesday for the May 10 elections, is set to enforce election rules including the liquor ban. "May 9 and 10 mahigpit naming ipatutupad ito. Bawal ang pag-inom (We will strictly implement the liquor ban on May 9 and 10. Drinking will be prohibited)," Espina said. Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code lists as an election offender "any person who sells, furnishes, offers, buys, serves or takes intoxicating liquor on the days fixed by law for the registration of voters in the polling place, or on the day before the election or on election day." But it also provides that hotels and other establishments duly certified by the Department of Tourism as tourist oriented and habitually in the business of catering to foreign tourists may be exempted for justifiable reasons upon prior authority of the Commission on Elections. Foreign tourists taking intoxicating liquor in said authorized hotels or establishments are exempted from the ban. On the other hand, Comelec Resolution 8730 declares it unlawful for any person, including owners and managers of hotels and establishments to sell, furnish, offer, buy, serve or take intoxicating liquor "anywhere in the Philippines." Other law enforcement agencies that will implement the liquor ban include the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Regional Election Directors, Provincial Election Supervisors, Election Officers and the Comelec Election Laws Enforcement Team. All systems go Espina said all systems are ready for the elections as far as the PNP is concerned. He said the PNP has already secured the delivery of 98 percent of precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines, and is manning security assistance desks. "All systems go na tayo. Na-secure ang lahat na kailangan i-secure. Ang PCOS machines, 98% na ang aming nai-deliver from warehouse to the hubs (We're all systems go. We secured the delivery of 98 percent of PCOS machines)," he said. Police are also starting to man some 36,000 security assistance desks located 50 meters away from the voting centers. Setting up checkpoints and securing of vital installations against criminality are continuing as well, he added. Police hotlines Espina appealed to the public to use the PNP text and landline hotlines (including the Patrol 117 landline, and the 2920 text line) to report election violations. A separate report on dzXL radio said Espina also encouraged the public to use landlines 7229585 and 4123227. Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard keeps watch over ports for the exodus of voters to the provinces to cast their votes. DzXL also reported Coast Guard chief Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo ordered a 24/7 monitoring of ports. The Coast Guard has prepared two vessels, seven patrol boats, and other small craft to ensure credible, honest, and peaceful elections. — LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV