Ilonggo driver caught ferrying liquor to Antique

By Jennifer P. Rendon 

A driver who came all the way from Janiuay, Iloilo was arrested after he tried to sneak in boxes of liquor to Caluya, Antique.

Arlie David, 43, of Barangay Balanac, Janiuay, was arrested at a quarantine control point (QCP) in Barangay San Francisco, Anini-y at around 8 a.m. of May 20, 2020.

The team of Police Lieutenant Charles Richard Casalan flagged down David’s vehicle and asked for his destination.

The driver allegedly claimed that he will deliver chickens.

Police Lieutenant Richard Tobias, Anini-y police chief, explained that they are asking for documents from motorists under the general community quarantine (QCP) guidelines.

“There were a few chickens when our team made a visual check,” he said.

But cops spotted boxes of liquor during a visual check.

Police later found 21 boxes of Tanduay Rhum (750ml) at the back portion of David’s Montero Sports SUV.

Tobias said the vehicle’s certificate of registration was named to a company based in Quezon City while its owner was in the name of a certain Gerrome Apolona of Tierra Pura, Tandang Sora, Quezon City.

But it appeared that the vehicle was already sold to a someone surnamed Adelantar from Janiuay, Iloilo.

Tobias said David was to deliver the liquor to a relative living in Barangay San Francisco, Anini-y.

The suspect was immediately arrested and the boxes of liquor were confiscated.

The liquor ban is still in force in Antique even if it has shifted to the GCQ amid the coronavirus disease pandemic.

Tobias said a provincial ordinance penalizes the selling, buying, and transporting of liquor.

A fine of P5,000 or imprisonment of 30 days or both will be imposed on violators.