Police in region ready to enforce money ban

CEBU, Philippines - The police in Central Visayas are ready to enforce the money ban that took effect yesterday.

Supt. Audie Villacin, who heads the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division, said they will properly investigate individuals who carry with them cash exceeding P100,000 without showing any proof that they are allowed to bring such an amount.

"Ang pulis, kung makakita sila nga nagdala anang kantidara, ilang dalhon sa presinto, i-properly blotter, para dunay chain of custody. We will just do it properly," said Villacin in yesterday's monthly Kapihan sa Philippine Information Agency.

Villacin said that during checkpoints, individuals will be visually checked to see if they are bringing such an amount and will be placed under police custody if found guilty.

Since the resolution is new to them, Villacin said they will review it and apply it to their operations until the effectivity of the resolution on May 13, election day.

The RIDMD chief said they are happy with the resolution.

"In the past, sige ra ta og reklamo about vote-buying, so at least karon ma-prevent siya through the resolution," Villacin said.

The Commission on Elections last Tuesday issued "Resolution 9688 limiting to P100,000 all bank withdrawals from May 8 to 13; and capping at P500,000 the cash that people may transport within the same period."

Possession of sums exceeding the caps, Comelec further said, would be presumed as part of an operation for vote-buying, and will subject the holder to investigation.

Mark Ramirez, Comelec Election Monitoring Mission team leader for Central Visayas said they will particularly monitor this matter.

Police have also warned the public about the election liquor ban, which will take effect today until May 13 midnight.

The provincial Comelec is still waiting for Manila to officially implement the temporary restraining order on the liquor ban, but for the meantime, the policy is still in effect today.

Two establishments, however, applied for exemption from the ban; a resort in San Fernando town and a subdivision in Cordova were granted exemption because they are housing local and foreign tourists.

Violators of the liquor ban will be imprisoned from one to six years without bail and will not be able to vote in the polls. (FREEMAN)