BY IME SORNITO and RUBY SILUBRICO
ILOILO City – Lifting the ban on the sale and consumption of liquor was a mistake, acknowledged Mayor Jerry Treñas, thus he re-imposed the prohibition yesterday morning, less than 24 hours after scrapping it.
Making a bad call is one of the pitfalls in decision-making, according to the mayor. But the most important thing is correcting the mistake right away, he stressed.
“Various incidents due to intoxicated persons” promoted him to backtrack, according to Treñas.
He also cited “the many other important activities undertaken by our security personnel” and the “advice coming from various sectors.”
“There were several reported incidents and complaints (of) abuse in (the) consumption of alcohol, and violations of physical distancing measures, hence the need to re-impose the prohibition on the sale and consumption of liquor,” read part of Treñas’ Executive Order No. 66-A, series of 2020 issued yesterday morning.
Covered by the ban are “any form of liquor or alcohol, beverages, or any alcoholic drink containing a specific percentage of alcohol by volume or weight which may be in the form of whisky, brandy, gin, rum, cordial, cocktail, wine, champagne, vermouth, basi, tuba, sake, beer, ale, stout, and the like.”
He warned persons violating the liquor ban they would be facing criminal and/or administrative charges.
“Nakabaton ako reports sang lain-lain nga insidente. Iban nagmaoy. Iban nagbatu sa pulis. Daw natam-an gid,” said Treñas.
Erring establishments, on the other hand, face appropriate penalties provided in the Iloilo City Tax Code, according to Treñas.
The mayor appeared not to have anticipated the adverse effects of his lifting of the liquor ban. He admitted as much during a press conference yesterday morning. He said, “I’m very surprised kon ano ang natabo.”
“I am only human. I make wrong decisions. But I will try to make less of these wrong decisions,” said Treñas. “Abi ko didto sila sa sulod sang balay mainum kag mapasiguro ang kalinong kag katawhay. Ti, nagwa pa sila. Ang iban waay facemask, nagdugang pa gid sang risk sang (COVID-19) infection.”
He ordered the Iloilo City Police Office and the city government’s Public Safety and Transportation Management Office to strictly enforce the liquor ban.
“I would rather be attacked for coming out with an order re-imposing the ban of alcoholic beverages than compromising the city,” said Treñas. “Ang importante nga if we make wrong decisions, right away we come up with a better decision, ma-correct ta dayun.”
‘UNDER THE INFLUENCE’
A few hours after Treñas lifted the liquor ban on Tuesday, four persons were arrested for alarm and scandal and defaming soldiers and policemen in Jaro district.
Isidro Celestre was arrested at around 9 p.m. in Barangay Balabago for trying to stab barangay tanod Jorbert Hinarios.
At around 9:30 p.m. Judel Gulfo, 36, of Barangay Ungka 1, Pavia, Iloilo was arrested for refusing to stop at a quarantine control point in Barangay Ungka, Jaro, and also for defaming cops and soldiers manning the checkpoint.
Alex Bugna was arrested in Barangay Lanit at around 10 p.m. for creating disturbance.
At around 10:15 p.m. Romy Galida was apprehended in Barangay San Isidro for alarm and scandal.
“They were all drunk,” according to Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) spokesperson, Police Captain Shella Mae Sangrines.
Aside from being inebriated, the four men were also not wearing facemasks and did not bring home quarantine passes while outside, Sangrines added.
ICPO director Police Colonel Eric Dampal said he favored the re-imposition of the liquor ban.
“We respect businessmen and storeowners who sell liquor. But the liquor ban is a really big help in reducing crimes. Kapag lasing, ang tendency ay maghahanap ng gulo. Several hours pa lang na-lift ang liquor ban may lasing na at nagmura sa mga pulis natin at Army. Nawalan na sila ng control,” Dampal said./PN
