DAVAO CITY: The Vices Regulation Unit (VRU) and the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) has apprehended fewer liquor ban violators in the first quarter of 2024 than in the same period last year.

Based on the VRU and the DCPO consolidated data, 307 individuals were apprehended from January to March 2024, much less than 491 apprehensions in the same period last year.

In an interview on Monday, Hernando Las, the head of the VRU, said the decrease in apprehensions could be attributed to the residents’ awareness of the liquor ban.

“People are well aware, and most apprehended are not city residents. Our enforcers conduct daily operations against violators of the anti-smoking ordinance, the liquor ban, and the sobriety ordinance,” Las said.

VRU also monitors establishments for their business permits and check their type of business to see if they are allowed to sell and serve liquor, he added.

According to the city’s sobriety ordinance, buying liquor and drinking in public places is no longer allowed from 1 a.m. to
8 a.m.

Violators will face a fine of PHP3,000 for the first offense, PHP5,000 for the second offense and three months imprisonment, and PHP5,000 for the third offense and one-year imprisonment, including the revocation of the establishment’s permit.

“(With the ordinance], we seek to strengthen the prohibition on the selling of liquor within 100 meters of schools,” Las said.

Source: Philippines News Agency