CCPO to strictly implement liquor ban

Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) city director Police Colonel Josefino Ligan. CDN Digital photo | Pegeen Maisie Sararaña

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) will be implementing intensively the liquor ban reimposed by Mayor Edgar Labella following the rise in the active Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the city.

Police Colonel Josefino Ligan, the CCPO director, said that they have noticed a significant increase in compliance from establishments in the past week before the liquor ban was reimposed.

As the Oplan Bulabog is being conducted every night, Ligan said there is now noticeable compliance from establishments.

“With this new executive order, ato ni ienforce og todo. Hopefully atong mga residente sa syudad, sayod na, aware na, dili na nila iviolate ang executive order,” said Ligan.

Among the measures that the city police will implement to ensure compliance with the ban is to focus on the affected establishments such as restaurants, hotels, resorts, convenience stores, and sari-sari stores.

Residents having casual drinking spree outside their homes will have violated the liquor ban in public spaces and will also be apprehended. The CCPO will follow the penalties stated in the Anti-Drunkiness Ordinance.

An ammendment of the ordinance will be tackled this afternoon in the regular session of the City Council for graver penalties during a quarantine.

The CCPO will not apprehend groceries and stores selling alcohol to public for private consumption in the customer’s homes. However, these establishments must make sure the customers will not drink near the establishments’ premises.

Still, the police will continue to conduct the Oplan Bulabog on restaurants, hotels, and other establishments if they will serve liquor to guests or customers.

Hotels and resorts, however, are allowed to serve liquor only to in-house guests.

The liquor ban will continue until it will be lifted by the city government. /rcg