City Hall workers nabbed in market drinking spree

By Emme Rose Santiagudo

Three personnel of the Iloilo City Hall and eight other persons were caught by authorities in the middle of a drinking spree inside the Iloilo Terminal Market on Thursday amid the General Community Quarantine (GCQ) in Iloilo City.

According to a police report, police authorities received a tip from a concerned citizen about a drinking spree happening inside a kiosk in “Super” or Iloilo Terminal Market on Thursday afternoon.

Apart from drinking in public which is banned by GCQ protocols, Local Economic Enterprise Office (LEEO) personnel Noel Capalla Onas and General Services Office (GSO) employees Melchor Manuel Blancaflor Potikar and Martie Matias were also caught flouting the physical distancing rule.

Jose Alexis Rojo Tugado, Woody Dela Riatte, Ma. Paz Domingo Eclarinal, Rigor Porras, Roel Villarimo, Marti Bergantenos, Allan Ray Depatillo and Rick Seguitter Jr. were also collared by the police.

The group faces charges for violating Executive Order (EO) No. 75 which set the implementing guidelines of the GCQ in Iloilo City, particularly Section 9 that regulates selling and consumption of liquor in the city.

Mayor Jerry Treñas has lifted the ban on the sale of liquor in Iloilo City but he set a limit on the volume that residents can buy per day.

Section 9 of EO No. 75 prohibits persons from consuming liquor or alcoholic beverages in public places.
Drinking in establishments, barangay roads, streets, and sidewalks will be strictly prohibited.

Establishments should also observe a set of limitations when selling or dispensing of liquor based on the EO.

For alcoholic drinks such as whisky, brandy, gin, and rum, it can only be sold at a maximum quantity of 2 liters per day.

Meanwhile, wine and champagne should only be sold at a maximum quantity of 4 liters per day.

Beer should only be sold at a maximum quantity of one case per day while all other forms of liquor should be sold at a maximum quantity based on the alcohol content of the aforementioned alcoholic beverages.

Treñas said he will forward the police report to the City Legal Office (CLO) for appropriate action and investigation.

“May nabaton kita nga report nga may nagainom-inom didto sa ‘Super’ market. Ginpasa ko na sa City Legal para maimbestigahan kag mahatagan ko sang report and rekomendasyon,” he said in a press conference on Friday.