A two-day liquor ban aimed at ensuring peaceful and orderly midterm elections

MANILA, Philippines – A two-day liquor ban aimed at ensuring peaceful and orderly midterm elections will be enforced on May 11 and 12. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has announced the ban ahead of the voting day when more than 68 million Filipinos will head to the polling stations from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. to elect 12 senators, 63 party-lists, 254 district representatives, as well as various local officials, including 17,942 governors, provincial board members, mayors, and councilors.

This prohibition follows Comelec Resolution No. 11057, which strictly prohibits the sale, offering, and consumption of alcoholic beverages during this period. Three-Day 'Money Ban' Begins Saturday: Karen Keigh Balderama, a 38-year-old barangay kagawad (village councilor) from Pateros, expressed her support for the ban, stating, "This is crucial in preventing alcohol-related violence and disputes that could disturb the peace during the elections." She emphasized her commitment to enforcing the ban in her community, viewing it as part of her public service duty to ensure safety and order. "My priority is to foster a peaceful and orderly environment so that our constituents can vote without worry," she added. Melvin Marco, a 28-year-old restaurant crew member from Taguig City, also welcomed the prohibition, noting that it would help voters be physically and mentally ready to select their leaders. "That's beneficial because people will be calmer," he remarked, explaining that a clear head leads to better decision-making. Kevin Protacio, a 29-year-old area manager living in Pasay City, highlighted the necessity of the liquor ban to curb potential disturbances from intoxicated individuals. Similarly, Jover Dailo, a 39-year-old businessman in Makati City, stated that the ban contributes to ensuring "peaceful, orderly, and clean elections." President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has declared May 12 a special non-working holiday to facilitate voter participation in the national and local elections. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is collaborating closely with the Philippine National Police (PNP) to guarantee security and order during the midterm elections. "The AFP, designated by Comelec for the election period, is working in partnership with the PNP to ensure secure and peaceful midterm elections," said AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla in a recent interview. According to the PNP's latest categorization, 1,272 areas are classified as green (generally peaceful), 197 as yellow (history of election-related incidents), 136 as orange (active threat groups), and 35 as red (intense political rivalries and serious threats).

Padilla explained that the AFP will provide additional personnel to the PNP based on each area's threat level and security needs. "The deployment varies, with increased presence in orange and red areas, coordinated with Comelec and the Joint Security Control Centers to ensure public safety and the integrity of the electoral process," he added. He assured the public that the AFP remains committed to professionalism and non-partisanship while safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process.