Davao City Mayor Sebastian 'Baste' Duterte. (PNA file photo)
DAVAO CITY – Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte said Monday he will impose stricter liquor ban guidelines following a shooting that occurred outside a bar here and resulted in the death of a 21-year-old student.
“We will impose stricter measures in our implementation of the liquor ban so that we can avoid such incidents from happening. It is because when people are intoxicated with alcohol, bad things can happen at any point in time,” Duterte said in an interview.
Around Saturday midnight, policemen arrested a non-uniformed police personnel accused of shooting dead a student following a heated argument inside a bar.
The two went outside to settle their differences, but the suspect allegedly pulled a gun and shot the victim several times after the latter’s group allegedly manhandled him.
Duterte said while a stricter liquor policy is being crafted, provisions under the existing liquor ban ordinance will still be followed.
Under the ordinance, the city's liquor ban is implemented from 1 a.m. to 8 a.m., and the selling, serving, or consuming of liquor and any other alcoholic and intoxicating drinks in public shall be prohibited during the period.
The last order for liquor for most bars is at midnight or 12:30 a.m.
“We will maintain that until such time we can find any adjustments. As I said, this is my first day of office. I have to observe how people react to ordinances, to our laws and I need to study this, so you have to give me time,” the mayor said.
He also warned bar owners to adhere to the guidelines, or face penalties if they commit violations.
“For the first offense they will pay a penalty, the second offense is imprisonment, and the third offense, revocation of business permit,” Duterte said. (PNA)
