- THERESA MAE DULMAN
The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) has appealed to the public to observe a maximum two-week limit on funeral viewings, following reports that wakes in some areas are being drawn out for up to a month primarily to facilitate gambling.
P/Lt. Col. Lester Leada, BCPO deputy director for Administration, said that authorities are coordinating with barangay officials and has ordered all station commanders to monitor burial schedules within their respective jurisdictions.
P/Lt. Col. Lester Leada, BCPO deputy director for Administration
He emphasized that while traditional small-scale gambling at wakes is often tolerated to help families cover funeral expenses, turning viewings into long-term commercial gambling operations will no longer be tolerated.
“If we see that gambling is being turned into a business, we will initiate police action,” Leada said.
He noted that prolonged wakes frequently lead to physical injuries and domestic disputes stemming from gambling losses.
“Most apprehensions for illegal gambling in Bacolod happen during these situations. Money meant for buying rice is instead gambled away (during wakes). We do not want the deceased to be used as an excuse for illegal gambling in the city,” he added.
From Oct. 12 to 18 alone, the BCPO conducted three anti-illegal gambling operations that led to the arrest of six individuals.
The BCPO reiterated its appeal for grieving families to respect the two-week timeframe to allow out-of-town relatives to pay their last respects without allowing illegal activities to persist.
Families requiring an extension beyond two weeks must formally notify their respective barangay officials, it added. | TMD
