Comelec imposes two-day liquor ban for Eleksyon 2022

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has imposed a liquor ban from May 8, 2022 to May 9, 2022, election day.

This is provided under Comelec Resolution 10746 dated December 16 but was released on Thursday, December 23.

"It shall be unlawful for any person, including owners and managers of hotels, resorts, restaurants, and other establishments of the same nature to sell, furnish, offer, buy, serve, or take intoxicating liquor anywhere in the Philippines," the resolution read.

Hotels, resorts, restaurants, and other establishments of the same nature duly certified by the Department of Tourism as tourist-oriented and habitually in the business of catering to foreign tourists may be exempted from the liquor ban, the Comelec said, "but only if they secure prior written authority from the competent officers and upon showing that there are justifiable reasons."

"Only foreign tourists taking intoxicating liquor in said authorized hotels or establishments are exempted from the prohibition," the resolution added.

Applications for exemption from the liquor ban, together with supporting documents, should be filed with and duly acted upon by the following:

• Regional Election Director of the National Capital Region (NCR), in cases of hotels, resorts, restaurants, and other establishments of the same nature located in the NCR;
• Provincial Election Supervisors with respect to establishments located in the municipalities within their respective provinces; and
• City Election Officers with respect to those located within their respective cities or districts.

Requests for exemption, however, will not be necessary in cases of bulk movement from one warehouse to another or to retail outlets, of which sale and/ or payment had already been consummated before the days the liquor ban were imposed, provided that no furnishing, offering, serving, taking or selling of liquor products for consumption shall be done during the effectivity of the liquor ban.

The exemption may be revoked or withdrawn summarily by the Comelec motu proprio or upon verified petition filed by any person provided that there is sufficient justification. —Llanesca T. Panti/KBK, GMA News