At least 10 people were rounded up in a bar in Ermita, Manila, before dawn Sunday, a few hours after the liquor ban imposed by the Commission on Elections took effect.

Superintendent Jose Hidalgo Jr., Manila Police District Station 5 commander, four of those arrested as Philip Modino, 30; Cyrus Santos, 24; Vicente Bucoy, 24; and Amado Gindoy, who were spotted having a drink at Joy Restaurant.

Police also nabbed restaurant employees Arjay Soria, 18; Rommel Osensao, 19; Dennis Barros, 26; Jay-Ar Mendoza; Ricardo Licda; and Aljon Agaoa, for serving the alcoholic beverages which is also in violation of the liquor ban.

“The arrests were made as part of the implementation of the Comelec Resolution No. 8730 or the liquor ban. We want to make sure that there will be no untoward incident happening in my area before and during the election due for the reason that they were drunk,” Hidalgo told the Manila Bulletin.

Hidalgo said the arrests were made inside the restaurant at Escoda corner Benitez Streets in Ermita around 4 a.m. Sunday.

He said police on patrol in Ermita District noticed that the restaurant was the only drinking joint open in the area.

When inspected the bar, they found the four men having drinks.

“We, likewise, arrested the six employees of Joy Restaurant for tolerating and serving booze to their patrons despite the liquor ban,” Hidalgo said.

The arrested person will be charged with violation of Comelec Resolution 8730 which prohibits drinking and serving alcoholic beverages 24 hours before the date of the elections.

Hidalgo said the same charges will be filed against Joy Fisher, owner of the said restaurant.

But a source in the MPD told the Manila Bulletin that there should have been at least 16 persons arrested in the early morning raid at Joy Restaurant.

Apparently, a police officer assigned to the MPD-Station 5 released six others, all female, without informing Hidalgo, the source said.

Asked if the information was true, Hidalgo confirmed the report but said that they were now tracking down the six persons who were released by one of his men.