ILOILO – The Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) is strictly enforcing the ban on the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages here.
In fact, according to Police Colonel Gilbert Gorero, IPPO director, they already arrested four persons.
Gorero said they would be stricter in inspecting private vehicles.
However, Gorero said there’s an exemption – big liquor companies.
“If the company has to transport liquor to its other warehouses for safekeeping, we will allow them. But they have to coordinate with the local police so that we can provide escorts to make sure the liquor will be kept in the warehouse and not for selling,” Gorero said.
The IPPO director is appealing to the public to follow orders from the provincial government to help contain the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
On June 1, 37-year-old Reynaldo Dela Cruz of Barangay Tacbuyan, Estancia was arrested. He was caught drinking beer with his two friends. The two friends, however, managed to escape.
A day after, three persons were nabbed in Barangay Cabugao Norte, Santa Barbara for transporting liquor . They were Jay Cober, 29, of Barangay Conarum, Lambunao (driver); Peter Ryan Saladar, 21, of Barangay Lanot Grande, Lambunao; and Roel Conahap, 21, of Barangay Mangil, Janiuay.
They were intercepted at a police checkpoint. Their van was carrying 3,200 boxes of whiskey.
The suspects were detained at the Santa Barbara police station./PN
