• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Personnel of the Philippine National Police in Western Visayas have been reminded anew of the “no-take policy” in the campaign against illegal gambling, as they could be facing stiffer sanctions.
In a statement, PBrig. Gen. Jack Wanky, police regional director, recalled that when he assumed as chief of Police Regional Office (PRO)-6, he was informed by his predecessor about the widespread issue of illegal gambling despite the presence of government-sanctioned small-town lottery (STL) operations.
Wanky ordered all city and provincial directors to wipe out illegal gambling, especially the “bookies,” through the formation of a task group focused on the campaign, noting that STL operators have been complaining about it.
Four illegal STL bookies have been recently arrested in the cities of Victorias, Escalante, Sagay, and the municipality Candoni, Negros Occidental, which resulted in the confiscation of P3,958 in cash bets and tally sheets.
“Bookies” is an illegal numbers game that use winning numbers from STL draws of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
The “bookies” collectors were reported to be part of a syndicate that operates the illegal numbers game in Negros Occidental.
Eight other suspects involved in illegal gambling operations were also arrested by the police in the municipalities of La Castellan and Calatrava as well as the cities of Himamaylan, Bago and La Carlota, with P1,146 in illegal gambling bets in their possession, according to reports of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office.
Police chiefs were also reminded to ensure that charges are filed against the arrested illegal gambling violators.
Wanky earlier admitted that individuals suspected of having links to illegal gambling, acknowledging that some of them were even his friends, sought a meeting with him.
The PRO-6 chief said that they will not receive any special treatment, asserting the zero-tolerance policy on illegal gambling in the region. | GB
