Cops nab 140 who broke ban on booze

MANILA, Philippines—Nearly 140 persons were arrested by the police across the country Sunday for defying the two-day liquor ban imposed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) ahead of the elections on Monday.

In Davao City, 116 persons were held for drinking and selling alcoholic beverages hours after the liquor ban took effect after midnight Saturday, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Police also arrested 20 persons, including two minors, in Metro Manila for violating the Comelec order.

Chief Supt. Generoso Cerbo Jr., PNP spokesperson, said the police filed criminal charges against the persons for defying the Comelec resolution prohibiting the selling and consumption of intoxicating drinks the day before and during the actual voting.

He said that violating the liquor ban was an election offense and violators faced a jail term of not more than six years.

Cerbo, however, could not say if those arrested were detained or subsequently released after the filing of the charges.

“We’re somewhat disappointed because there are still those who broke the elections ban. But the number of arrested persons was very negligible when compared to the number of voters,” Cerbo said in a news briefing at Camp Crame.

In related news, 3,161 persons had been arrested nationwide since Jan. 13 for violating the election gun ban.

Among those arrested were 44 policemen, 20 soldiers, 41 government employees and 135 security guards.

Cerbo said 3,084 firearms, 705 explosives and over 26,000 bullets had also been seized at police checkpoints and raids. Marlon Ramos