Higher fine for public drunkenness sought

Getting drunk in public places in Cebu City will soon carry stiffer fines and penalties.

This if the proposed ordinance of Councilor Dave Tumulak, amending the 2002 ordinance prohibiting getting drunk in public places, gets approved by the Cebu City Council.

From penalties ranging between P500 to P1,000 and three months of imprisonment, the proposed ordinance of Tumulak will increase the penalties to between P2,000 to P5,000 or six months of imprisonment.

“The main purpose of amending this ordinance is to discipline people who would always get drunk in public places. One of the complaints we receive comes from wives whose husbands always get drunk,” Tumulak said in an interview.

He added though that this measure should not only discipline drunk husbands but for the rest of the residents of the city. Tumulak also pointed out teenagers who are drinking and getting intoxicated in public which, he said, may lead to cases of rape or teenage pregnancy.

The ordinance prohibits being drunk in places that include streets, alleys, plazas, parks and other public places within Cebu City.

Under the proposed amendment, violators of the ordinance will be fined P5,000 or be imprisoned for six months or both, depending on the court’s decision.

In case the violator would opt to settle his or her offense without going to court, they will have to pay an administrative fine of P2,000 through a citation ticket to be given by the police or traffic enforcer or any arresting officer.

However, this settlement outside of the court cannot be availed by those who violate the ordinance for the second time or more.

According to Tumulak, who used to head the Cebu City Command Control Center (C3), he noticed that a lot of the complaints responded by the C3 at night involved people who are drunk.

He said those apprehended by the Mobile Patrol Group are usually brought to the Cebu City Medical Center for a liquor test.

Asked for his message to drunkards in public places, he said, “If you want to drink, do so at home or inside establishments. And drink moderately.”