18 liquor ban violators in EV face 6 years in prison

By RPCRD, Police Regional Office 8
October 29, 2013

CAMP KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte – The 18 persons arrested by the police for violating the liquor ban in connection with the recently concluded barangay elections Monday faces up to six years imprisonment.

Eastern Visayas top cop Police Chief Supt. Elmer R. Soria said that as of 12:00 midnight Monday, there were 20 people, including two minors, arrested for violating the liquor ban that was implemented on October 27 until October 28 as per Commission on Elections Resolution number 9715.

“The ban on alcoholic beverages helped quell tensions among candidates and their supporters and prevented occurrence of untoward incidents that could have disrupted the electoral proceedings,” said Soria.

Soria informed that the arrested violators would face a penalty ranging from one year up to six years imprisonment, removal of right to vote, and disqualification from public office.

At around 11:30 a.m. Sunday, six persons - Randy Jun Catalogo, 21; Jimar Rago, 19; Jeffrey De Paz, 21; Matthew Macasil, 21; John Robert Ontimare, 20; and Neil Sylas Babiano, 23 - all residents of Brgy. 57, White Lane, Sampaguita District in Tacloban city were rounded up by the police while drinking liquor at the village basketball court.

Fifty-year old Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH) employee Carlito Pernitez was arrested Sunday evening when he appeared before the Mahaplag police station in Leyte and was noticed by duty police officers to be under the influence of liquor.

Five seamen, identified as Mark Saldo, 26; Danny Muksin, 39; Renante Legaspi, 28; Godofredo Villareal, 33 and Joseph Oliver Nagales, 33; were arrested by the Reactionary Stand-by Support Force (RSSF) under PSupt. Edilberto Aban while drinking at the vicinity fronting Gran Hotel in Port Area, Tacloban City at around 9:00 p.m. on election day.

At around 9:20 p.m., same RSSF team arrested Baby Misscion, 31; Dennis Duquillo, 33 and Andot Dansha, 22; with two minors while drinking liquor along the roadside in Maharlika highway, Brgy. 91, Abucay also in Tacloban City.

Same police team also arrested Gregorio Esposo, 53; Jeffrey Garrido, 28 and Jovito Casiong, 46; while drinking liquor along side the Maharlika highway in Brgy. 99 also in Tacloban City.

The arrested liquor ban violators were detained at police stations lock-up cells except for the two minors who were turned-over to the Tacloban City social welfare office.