Labella: Stop drinking in public, or else...

CEBU, Philippines — The public has been cautioned anew to stop drinking in public areas in Cebu City amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mayor Edgardo Labella, in yesterday’s virtual presser, made the warning following police reports of drinking spree in the city’s upland areas.

He said city police will not think twice about arresting violators of the liquor ban, which the mayor re-imposed on February 3.

“Ako nalang i-warn sa atong mga kaigsuonan nga hilig kaayo mag-inom inom didto sa dunay mga drinking spots, nindot tan-awn kay you’re overlooking the city, nya bugnaw, conducive to drinking but since we are in a pandemic, please I am warning you nga obey the order, obey a lawful order of a duly constituted authority like the local government unit of Cebu kay we will bring you to the bar of justice,” he said.

Labella said city police chief Col. Josefino Ligan will make a relentless effort to inspect the areas in the mountain barangays where the liquor ban might be violated.

“I have heard reports about that nga naay daghan ni-violate sa atong liquor ban, labi na karon kaning dunay mga drinking outlets diha dapit sa Busay, diha dapit sa Babag, or dapit sa Malubog nga daghan na’ng gainom,” he said.

Last February, Labella signed an executive order for the reimplementation of liquor ban.

“It shall be prohibited for any person, including owners and managers of hotels, resorts, restaurants, convenience stores, sari-sari stores and other establishments to serve and/or drink intoxicating liquor in any public place within the City of Cebu for the entire duration of any form of community quarantine,” read Executive Order No. 117.

“However, hotels, resorts and other accommodation establishments are allowed to serve liquor only for their in-house guests, pursuant to prevailing guidelines from the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI),” it added.

Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO) head Jared Limquiaco said they will inspect Friday night establishments from Barangays Tabunan to Busay to check if some indeed violated the liquor ban.

“Adtoon namo tanan, so mag-roving mi sa areas... Wa ta kahibawo unsay ilang rason. Basin nag-inom sa kilid unya para nila okay lang, which is dili pwede, so spread ra ni’g awareness unya,” said Limquiaco.

Limquiaco earlier warned business establishments that their business permit will be revoked if caught violating the liquor ban.

BPLO used to only revoke the license to sell and serve liquor of the violators. Violators, however, will still be afforded due process. A show cause order will be issued by the city government for the violators to explain their side before penalties could be imposed.

According to Limquiaco, the BPLO will hear their side first before recommending any revocation of business permit. —KQD (FREEMAN)