ILOILO City – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is imposing a two-day liquor ban beginning May 13, eve of the synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.
No one will be allowed to sell or buy alcoholic beverages starting 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, said Atty. Tomas Valera, Comelec Region 6 assistant director.
The elections are on May 14.
Comelec has tasked the Philippine National Police to enforce the ban.
Only establishments accredited by the Department of Tourism (DOT) such as hotels and restaurants are exempted from the liquor ban, said Valera.
“Of course, these DOT-accredited establishments must apply for an exemption from Comelec,” he stressed.
Still, these accredited establishments are barred from dispensing liquor to Philippine residents; only foreigners are allowed to buy and consume liquor during the two-day period, clarified Valera.
Violating the liquor ban is an election office. Valera said the violator – the seller and buyer, and even those caught drinking liquor in public – may be imprisoned for up to six years.
“An individual convicted for committing an election office is also perpetually disqualified from running for public office,” Valera added.
The assistant regional director, however, admitted monitoring the entire Western Visayas and enforcing the liquor ban is a logistical challenge for the police.
Western Visayas is made up of 4.051 barangays scattered in six provinces, 16 cities and 117 municipalities.
As of the 2015 census, the region has a total population of 7,536,383./PN
