INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
LUCENA CITY — The Cavite provincial government on Monday, Oct. 23, exempted tourist establishments from the liquor ban during the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE).
During its regular session on Monday, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan passed Provincial Ordinance (PO) No. 422-2023, which amended PO No. 421-2023 that was passed on Oct. 16.
The amended ordinance added Section 4 to exclude tourist establishments from the liquor ban.
The new provision reads: “Section 4. Exemption. The prohibition under this Ordinance shall not apply to hotels, resorts, restaurants, and other establishments of the same nature that are tourist-oriented and are habitually in the business of catering to tourists, Provided, that tourists taking intoxicating liquor in said authorized hotels, resorts, restaurants, and other establishments are exempted from the prohibitions in the preceding paragraph.”
“This is without prejudice to provisions of the Omnibus Election Code and the pertinent guidelines under Article XVI of Resolution No. 10924 of the Commission on Elections against the sale, purchase, and consumption of intoxicating liquor on the day before the election or on election day,” it added.
The amendment was approved by Gov. Juanito Victor Remulla on Tuesday, Oct. 24. A copy of PO 422-2023 was posted on the Facebook page of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
On Oct. 16, the provincial council approved two ordinances that imposed a liquor ban and set curfew hours from Oct. 19 to 30 to help maintain peace and order during the BSKE.
Under PO 421-2023, the provincial government ordered: “to temporarily ban the sale, distribution and consumption of beer, liquor and alcoholic beverages within the province of Cavite during the BSKE to promote peace and order.”
The ordinance explained that the sale, distribution and consumption of alcoholic drinks “may contribute to public disturbances, accidents and unruly behavior.”
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) imposed a liquor ban only on the eve of election day until election day itself on Oct. 30. The campaign period started on Oct. 19 and will end on Oct. 28.
The Cavite lawmakers maintained that under the Local Government Code of 1991, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, as the legislative body of the province, shall approve ordinances and pass resolutions necessary for an efficient and effective provincial government.
Under PO 420-2023, the provincial government also imposes curfew hours from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. the following day.
“During this time, all individuals, regardless of age, shall remain indoors and shall not loiter or assemble in public places,” the ordinance stated.
Election officers, law enforcers, individuals traveling to or from work or in emergency situations, or those with parental or guardian permission for essential activities are exempted from the curfew.
The order explains that “the implementation of curfew during this critical period can contribute to the overall security and integrity of the electoral process.”
Violation of the liquor ban and curfew hours is punishable by P2,000 to P5,000 fines and imprisonment of six months.
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