Liquor ban: 28 violators arrested

At least 28 people were arrested and jailed yesterday in Caloocan City and Quezon City for violating the liquor ban imposed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in connection with today’s general elections.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Ricardo de Leon said the 28 will not be able to vote in today’s national and local polls.

"The only way for them to leave their prison cells is to be able to vote is for them to (post) bail," he said.

De Leon said the 28 have been charged with violating the Omnibus Election Code in relation to the liquor ban.

They will be jailed from six to 12 months and also fined, he added.

In Caloocan City, 19 people were arrested at around 1:10 a.m. yesterday while having drinking in a restaurant along Samson Road.

Investigator Police Officer 2 Alberto Eustaquio said restaurant owner Tong Ng Dee, 56, was also arrested for serving them liquor.

In Quezon City, two men were arrested after they were caught drinking liquor on a traffic island in the middle of Kalayaan Avenue.

The seven others were apprehended while drinking liquor in different sari-sari stores in Novaliches after the liquor ban took effect 12:01 a.m. yesterday.

De Leon said he has ordered police to strictly implement the liquor ban which ends at midnight tonight.

"We already conducted massive information on the liquor ban subject but we were able to make arrests," he said.

Meanwhile, De Leon assured the people yesterday that the 17,000-strong NCRPO, backed up by some 3,000 combat troops, is ready to ensure honest, orderly, and peaceful elections in Metro Manila today.

De Leon said he had placed police on heightened alert and laid out all necessary security measures for today’s elections.

"The entire National Capital Region Police Office will be on hand to thwart any attempt to derail the process and will act decisively to prevent groups from curtailing the right of the citizenry to freely exercise their right of suffrage," he said.

At least 3,000 policemen will be deployed in 768 polling centers to ensure the safety and security of 5,397,967 voters in 32,204 precincts, he added.

De Leon said another 1,000 policemen will be dispatched to 17 areas in Metro Manila where the canvassing of votes will be undertaken.

"The usual conduct of checkpoints, chokepoints and walk the beats will still be undertaken to ensure the security of the metropolis," he said.

The Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) of the five police districts and the Regional Special Action Unit (RSAU) will be placed on stand-by on strategic points for immediate deployment, he added.

De Leon said he has tapped tanods or village watchmen in 1,691 barangays in Metro Manila to help police in election and anti-terrorist duties.

Some accredited members of non-governmental organizations are also expected to assist in the orderly conduct of the elections, he added.

In Caloocan City, meanwhile, police arrested Maria Luisa Sosa, 46, and Joefrey delos Santos, 19, while they were reportedly pasting walls campaign materials maligning Mayor Reynaldo Malonzo.

They were arrested a few minutes past midnight Saturday along J. P. Rizal street in Maypajo by police mobile patrolmen.

Charges of illegal campaigning, unjust vexation and violation of the Omnibus Election Code would be filed against them. — With reports from Pete Laude, Katherine Adraneda