A POLICE official in Cagayan de Oro City is warning the public against buying and selling of alcoholic beverages on Sunday, May 13, until the village and youth polls on Monday, May 14.
Superintendent Mardy Hortillosa II, spokesperson of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo), said liquor ban is taking effect to ensure that the conduct of the elections is peaceful and orderly.
"Tuyo gyud aning liquor ban nga mahapsay ang eleksyon ug aron nga makalikay ta sa kagubot nga posibleng mahitabo ug kung dunay makainom nga moanha sa mga polling centers (The liquor ban aims to have a peaceful election, preventing possible incidents and drunk voters)," Hortillosa said.
Hortillosa said enough number of police personnel are positioned in the different polling places and whoever is caught violating the liquor ban will be held under custody.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) resolution 10246 (Section 261 (dd) of the Omnibus Election Code) prohibits the selling, furnishing, offering, buying, and serving or taking intoxicating liquor.
However, the poll body said hotels, resorts and other establishments of the same nature duly certified by the Department of Tourism as tourist-oriented and habitually in the business of catering to foreign tourists and visitors may be exempted from the liquor ban, provided that a prior written authority from the poll body is secured.
"Provided, further, that foreign tourists taking intoxicating liquor in said authorized hotels or establishments are exempted from the provision of this subparagraph," the resolution stated.
Violators will be meted with imprisonment of not less than one year but not more than six years.
Additional punishment also includes disqualification from holding public office and deprivation of the right to suffrage.