• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Negros Oriental police provincial director and six police chiefs have been relieved from their posts following the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) implementation of the one-strike policy against illegal gambling.
The action came after simultaneous anti-illegal gambling operations conducted by the Regional Special Operations Group of the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) on Aug. 28 resulted in the arrest of six individuals allegedly involved in illegal numbers games in six areas of Negros Oriental.
Relieved from their posts were PCol. Timmar Alam, provincial director of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office; PLt. Col. Joeson Parallags, chief of Bayawan City Police Station; PLt. Col. Romeo Cubo, officer-in-charge (OIC) of Guihulngan City Police Station; PMaj. Mary Jean Gutierrez, OIC of Sibulan Municipal Police Station; PCapt. James-Taylor Pineda, OIC of Pamplona Municipal Police Station; PCapt. Artupo Marfil III, acting police chief of Tayasan Municipal Police Station; and PCapt. Joesanne Magalso, OIC of Ayungon Municipal Police Station.
PRO-NIR Director PBrig. Gen. Romano Cardiño has designated PCol. Lito Patay, deputy regional director for operations, as officer-in-charge of the NORPPO in addition to his present duties.
The simultaneous police operations, targeting suspects involved in soliciting and collecting bets for illegal numbers games in violation of Republic Act No. 9287, or the law penalizing illegal numbers games, also led to the recovery of assorted illegal gambling and marked money of P1,170.
The reliefs were ordered following the discovery of illegal numbers games within the areas of responsibility of the concerned police commanders, regional police spokesperson Lt. Col. Joem Malong said.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. had directed the PRO-NIR regional director to intensify the campaign against illegal gambling and impose decisive administrative action against police commanders who fail to prevent its proliferation.
Cardiño said the implementation of the one-strike policy reflects the PNP leadership’s firm position that illegal gambling and other unlawful activities will not be tolerated.
“Command responsibility is fundamental in the performance of every police officer,” Cardiño said, stressing that the presence and continued operation of illegal gambling activities within a police unit’s area of responsibility cannot be tolerated.
He said police commanders are expected to be vigilant and proactive in preventing, detecting and addressing illegal activities in their jurisdictions. | GPB
