2 A.M. LIQUOR BAN Mayor: No assurance from bars, no repeal

By: Emme Rose Santiagudo

ILOILO City Mayor Jerry Treñas said he will not repeal the executive order (EO) imposing the 2 a.m. liquor ban on bars and night clubs if bar operators cannot assure him of peace and order in their businesses.

Treñas said he is waiting for the business owners to reach out to him and present their assurances and guidelines before he decides to repeal EO 146-2017.

“I really want to revoke the executive order but ang bola ara sa bar operators pero ti asta subong waay pa man sila nakakadto sa aton. Kay kon magkadto sila sakon, I want to sit down with them,” he said.

The mayor added that if the bar operators can’t assure him of the security of their places if the ban is lifted, he will not repeal the ordinance.

“Ano ila assurances, may CCTV sila? May security guard sila? May bouncers sila? May assurance sila nga kon madakpan sila nga ga serve sa minor isira ko dayun. Waay ko gadali. Gahulat ako sa ila, ready man ko mag atubang sa ila,” he said.

EO No. 146, series of 2017 directed the mandatory closure at 2 a.m. of all bars, night clubs, disco bars, resto bars, and other similar establishments.

Previously, bar establishment owners in Iloilo City assured their compliance with the requirements set by Treñas.

Jim Velez, president of the Iloilo Smallville Business Association, said in previous interviews that they are finalizing the guidelines.

Among the guidelines that they assured are requiring bars to have security guards, bouncers, and functioning CCTVs.

The bar owners also assured that they will blacklist all troublemakers from other bars and other similar establishments, with strict implementation of the ‘no liquor on minors’ policy and frisking on bars and night clubs.