Friday, October 26, 2007 Biz firms have until today to get liquor ban exemption
ESTABLISHMENTS that intend to sell liquor on Oct. 28 to 29 have until today to secure an exemption from the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
In Cebu City, only four have so far asked to be spared of the liquor ban, which starts on the eve of the elections.
The Comelec warned that the police are deputized to conduct raids on businesses that violate Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code.
The section includes prohibitions on the sale and taking of liquor.
It is reinforced by Comelec Resolution 8310, which sets the Oct. 29 synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections’ liquor ban rules and regulations.
Promulgated last Sept. 6, the resolution declared it “unlawful for any person, including owners and managers of hotels and other establishments to sell, furnish, offer, buy, serve, or take intoxicating liquor anywhere in the Philippines.”
Exemptions are allowed, though, provided that requirements are met and the rules strictly observed.
Violators are “punishable with imprisonment of not less than one year but not more than six years, and shall not be subject to probation; and in addition, the guilty party shall suffer disqualification to hold public office and deprivation of the right of suffrage.”
As of yesterday afternoon, only the Grand Majestic Restaurant, Duty Free Philippines, Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, and Montebello Villa Hotel were given exemptions.
That was after each secured a Department of Tourism (DOT) certification that they are “tourist oriented and habitually in the business of catering to foreign tourists.”
The exemption, though, does not include serving liquor to Filipinos, as it specified that the establishment should only cater to foreign tourists. (RHM)
