FOURTEEN employees of the City Government were apprehended Tuesday, December 22, by police officers of the Talomo Police Station for secretly partying and drinking liquor.

Based on the initial investigation conducted by the police, the government workers were apprehended at 3:40 p.m. of December 22 at a motor pool in Barangay Maa, Davao City.

The Davao City Police Office has identified the 14 employees as Ferdinand Escandor, Rolando Cael, Victor Taclob, Carpio Ortez, Fernando Madrigal, Darius Lolito Gragasin, Ariel Mabilin, Uldarico Villarojo, Richard Elorde, Manuel Cello, Nilo Ramones, Laymon Estrobo, Arjie Pilapil, and Evan Castillo.

The 14 government employees, who are under the City Engineer's Office, could be in violation of the existing liquor ban of the city.

According to Executive Order 59 of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, "No liquor and any other alcoholic or intoxicating drinks shall be sold, served, or consumed in public 24 hours of the day." This is effective until December 31, 2020.

City Hall has also banned Christmas parties and other non-essential gatherings and activities. The mayor has also repeatedly reminded the public to avoid gatherings as this could increase the risk of Covid-19 infection.

In the photos provided by Talomo Police Station, it can be seen that the government employees, who were wearing the "Stay at home" campaign T-shirt of the City Government, were sitting in front of alcoholic drinks.

Davao City Police Office (DCPO) spokesperson Police Captain Rosario Aguilar said cases will be filed against them for violating regulations set by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) and the executive orders of the city.

Meanwhile, Duterte-Carpio issued a stern warning against employees of the City Hall who disobey orders on the prohibition on the conduct of Christmas parties and the liquor ban amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

"A stern warning and reminder to all offices not to conduct parties," said Duterte-Carpio on Tuesday after receiving the report. "Heads of offices should remind their personnel every day to give honor (by following protocols) to their fellow employees who are hard at work on the Covid-19 frontlines."

Duterte-Carpio has also ordered the Davao City Human Resource Management Office to "check other penalties aside from liquor ban cases" following the apprehension of the 14 City Government employees. (With CIO)