• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Police Regional Office-Western Visayas (PRO-6) yesterday issued a stern warning that nobody will be spared in the intensified campaign against all forms of illegal gambling, following the recent arrest of a policeman and a personnel of Bureau of Fire and Protection in Iloilo for their alleged involvement in such illegal activity.
Their arrest came after PBrig. Gen. Jack Wanky, regional director of PRO-6, ordered all police units in Western Visayas, including the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) and Bacolod City Police Office, to exert their best effort in the anti-illegal gambling campaign, regional spokesman PLt. Col. Arnel Solis said.
In Negros Occidental, the widespread operations of Small Town Lottery (STL) “bookies”, which are not sanctioned by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), have been the subject of complaints from a legitimate STL operator in the province.
The bookies or collectors were reported to be part of a syndicate that operates an illegal numbers game, using the STL draw results of the PCSO.
From April 28 to May 3, NOCPPO reported to have arrested five STL bookies identified as Antonio Losocon, Perla Beloan, Jay Tagonesa, Joemarie Lozada and Razel Garcia in Sipalay City, Candoni, E.B. Magalona and Toboso, which also yielded P1,287 in cash bets and legitimate STL paraphernalia.
It was not determined yet if charges were already filed against the arrested suspects. Solis said the apprehending police officers are being required to submit reports on the status of cases filed against illegal gambling violators regularly.
He added that police officers allegedly involved in illegal gambling are also being monitored.
Earlier, Wanky reminded the PRO-6 personnel of the “no-take policy” in the campaign against illegal gambling, which prohibits all Philippine National Police members from taking any money from illegal gambling operation as they would face stiffer sanctions. | GB
