Strict closing time for Baguio nightspots: PNP

By Dexter A. See

BAGUIO CITY – The Baguio City Police Office ordered all stations in the city to strictly implement closing time of night spots in this summer capital.

City police chief Col. Allen Rae F. Co said owners of night spots must comply with prescribed closing time or fines would be imposed on them for violating city ordinance.

He said while the ordinance prescribing the closing time of night spots has not been amended, revised or repealed by the local legislative body, the local police force will continue to implement the same and that it is expected that owners of the night establishments will strictly comply with the prescribed closing time instead of awaiting for the policemen to remind them about their compliance to the local legislative measure.

Earlier, some owners of night spots located in the different parts of the city have been found by the BCPO personnel to have constantly violated the prescribed closing time of night spots and that the appropriate fines were imposed against them by the local government through the years.

Under the ordinance, videoke establishments are mandated to close at 9 pm, liquor establishments without dancing are mandated to close at 12 midnight while bars with dancing are supposed to close their operations at 2 am.

“We seek the cooperation of the owners of the night spot owners by strictly complying with the prescribed closing time so that our law enforcers can concentrate in anti-criminality and peacekeeping interventions for us to be able to sustain the prevailing decent peace and order situation in our city,” Co said.

According to him, there were numerous incidents in the past where bar owners and managers badmouthed law enforcers who reminded them of their violations which should not be the case because the policemen are simply doing their job as embodied in the existing ordinance that must be complied by all owners of nigh spots.

He said bar owners should bring their sentiments to the local legislative body for the possible amendment of the prescribed closing time of their establishments and for them not to blame the police when they are imposed the required fines for their violation.