Three men, including a beneficiary of the government’s social amelioration program, were arrested in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija, for allegedly violating the liquor ban.
The men were caught while drinking outside a home on Sunday afternoon, according to police.
Drinking alcohol is prohibited in certain areas, while community quarantine is imposed to prevent mass gathering and to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
According to Police Lt. Col. Heryl Bruno, chief of the San Jose police, said one of the suspects received financial assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development under the social amelioration program.
After allegedly buying food and other necessities for his family, the suspect used what’s left of the cash aid to purchase alcohol.
Another suspect even traveled far just to join the drinking session.
The suspects are now under the custody of San Jose police for violating the enhanced community quarantine.
The quarantine is due to be completed throughout Luzon on April 30. The government, however, is yet to decide whether to extend, modify, or lift the lockdown.
Also read: “Quarantine violator” shot by guard in Bacolod
10 arrested for using P3K cash aid in gambling in Nueva Ecija
Authorities arrested ten people, including four women who were caught gambling amid enhanced community quarantine in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija, only a few hours after the local government distributed P3,000 cash aid in the said city.
The suspects were nabbed after their neighbor reported the illegal gambling activity, said Col. Renato Morales, chief of Palayan City Police.
Those arrested include construction workers Angelo Diongco, Roldan Viado, and Daniel Onia; vendors Marilou Guerra and Gregorio Guerra; and student Garry Gatbunton.
Rogelio Gonzales, Tessa Sanchez, Theresa Onia, at Marites Guerra, 59 were also arrested.
Residents arrested for gambling using cash aid
Three family members were arrested on Saturday after they were found gambling using the gov’t cash aid at their home in Laoag City.
The suspects were caught in the act of gambling outside their house in Sitio 2, Barangay 37, Calayab, Laoag City.
P372 cash bets on gambling and cards were obtained from the two women and one man. The two female suspects admitted that they had obtained P5,500 from the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s social amelioration program, which is intended to be used amid the COVID-19 crisis.
The three will face charges in violation of Presidential Decree 1602 or Anti-Gambling Law.