MANDAUE City is celebrating today the feast day of St. Joseph, city’s patron saint, but alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
No alcoholic drink can be sold or served in public anywhere in the country today as the Commission on Election (Comelec implements the liquor ban starting 12:01 a.m. today until midnight of May 9, Election Day.
During the liquor ban period, individuals including owners and managers of hotels, resorts, restaurants, and other establishments of the same nature are not allowed to sell, furnish, offer, buy, serve, or take intoxicating liquor anywhere in the Philippines.
Mandaue City Election Officer Ferdinand Gujilde reminded Mandauehanon that they should refrain from drinking liquor, specially in public places, even as they celebrate their fiesta.
However, foreigners and establishments such as hotels, restaurants and resorts certified by the Department of Tourism (DOT) as “tourist-oriented and habitually in the business of catering to foreign tourists” can be exempted, for as long as they had applied for exemption from the Comelec.
Gujilde also reminded politicians not to use the fiesta to campaign as the campaign period has ended yesterday.
“Follow the law,”he warned candidates.
City Administrator James Abadia has also warned candidates, including the incumbents seeking reelection or vying for other positions, not to make speeches about their candidacy while attending fiesta-related events in the city today.
Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) acting director Senior Supt. Jonathan Cabal said they would strictly enforce the liquor ban.
“We don’t have any choice but enforce (the ban). Definitely manghuhuli kami (we will arrest violators),” he said.
Cabal said its a fiesta, they would expect many liquor ban violators that they would have to arrest.
Cabal said he asked the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in the city to accommodate violators of the liquor ban if they would not have enough space at the MCPO to detain violators.