Mayor slams ambulance driver for sneaking in liquor

By Jennifer P. Rendon 

The mayor of Sibalom, Antique condemned what he called a “fraudulent act” of a town hall employee who was arrested for possessing and transporting liquor amid the COVID-19 crisis.

In a press statement hours after the incident, Mayor Gian Carlo Occeña noted that Emmanuel Marron’s act of “attempting to bring in illegal boxes of liquor using the municipal ambulance is an outright violation of the existing Executive Orders of the Provincial Governor, especially in this time of crisis.”

Selling and consumption of alcoholic beverages in public are banned in Antique amid the general community quarantine which was imposed to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Occeña stressed that he would never condone such act, as he vowed that Marron will face the consequences of his action.

“It is sad to note that this unfortunate incident placed the Municipality of Sibalom and the Sibalomnons as a whole in a bad light and eventually jeopardizes our effort in upholding what we stand for,” he said.

Occeña also assured that he will never condone such actions.

The 33-year old Marron from Barangay Olaga, Sibalom was arrested May 7 at a quarantine control point in Barangay Fabrica, Hamtic.

Members of Hamtic Police Station, together with the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF)-Antique province, flagged down the Emergency Responder Ambulance of Sibalom (conduction sticker NR. F30917) and saw boxes of liquor during a visual search.

Authorities discovered nine boxes of Tanduay Rhum 375ml and a box of Lucky Me noodles at the back of the ambulance.

The suspect was arrested while the boxes of liquor were seized by the Hamtic Police Station.

Marron will be charged for violation of Governor Rhodora Cadiao’s Executive Order No. 35 to to 45-A, in relation to Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code (Resistance and disobedience to a person in authority).