ILOILO City – Employing bouncers, peacekeepers and other personnel of similar nature who are not duly licensed and trained is prohibited in this southern city effective immediately.
Dated August 26, 2022, Mayor Jerry P. Treñas issued Executive Order (EO) No. 053-2022 requiring the hiring of only qualified security personnel in bars, night clubs, restaurants, and similar establishments primarily engaged in the selling, dispensing and serving of alcoholic beverages and other intoxicating drinks, and those which cater to customers who consume a substantial amount of alcoholic beverages.
The mayor said bouncers, peacekeepers and the like must be licensed and trained by schools accredited by the Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies of the Philippine National Police.
In issuing the order, Treñas cited, among others, the rising number of said establishments engaged in the unregulated dispensation of liquor and other intoxicating drinks even during the wee hours of the morning and sometimes, at daytime result to improper conduct and harmful behavior of consumers and proliferation of criminal activities.
“…imbibing of liquor or intoxicating drinks even during wee hours of the morning permeates unwanted altercations leading to physical assault, damage to properties, and even loitering in the streets at night of persons under the influence of liquor,” the EO read.
The order further cited numerous reports of abuse of power given to bouncers, peacekeepers, and other unauthorized and unlicensed security personnel resulting in human rights violations.
Compliance officers and other authorized personnel will be deployed by the city government to conduct regular random inspections to ensure proper compliance of business establishments operating within the city.
Establishments found to have violated the order shall be meted with appropriate criminal, administrative, and/or civil sanctions/penalties which include but are not limited to the provisions under the Iloilo City Tax Code, cancellation of business permits and/or closure of business establishments and shall also be a ground for non-renewal of their business permits for the subsequent year.
Meanwhile, all persons who knowingly break any of the provisions of the order and are found to have violated the protocols and endanger the lives of the city residents shall also face appropriate sanctions/penalties.
Treñas noted criminal charges may also be filed depending on the severity of the offense./PN
