DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 9 Aug) – The station commanders who have failed to stop illegal gambling activities in their are
as will be relieved from their posts, the Police Regional Office in the Davao Region warned on Friday.
Brig. Gen. Marcelo C. Morales, PRO-11 director, also threatened other members of the police force who are caught protecting or engaging in illegal gambling operations.
“Do not challenge my authority,” he said.
He added that officers caught would be forced to undergo a 30-day Focused Reformation and Reorientation and Moral Enhancement for Police Officers in Subic, Zambales.
Rogue police officers with pending administrative charges for misbehavior or neglect of duties will also be candidates to join the program, Morales said.
In July, authorities arrested 238 individuals in a series of police operations against gambling activities, mostly involved in cockfights, video karera (horse racing video game), illegal numbers games, mahjong, and “tong-its.” Authorities confiscated bet money worth P42,197.
Maj. Jason Baria , PRO-11 spokesperson, said 40 anti-illegal gambling operations were conducted in Davao City, 13 in Davao del Norte, 13 in Davao Oriental, 11 in Davao del Sur, 5 in Davao Occidental, and 3 in Compostela Valley.
Also, 78 cases had already been filed against individuals for violating the country’s gambling laws such as Republic Act 9287 and Presidential Decree 1602, penalizing the illegal gambling activities, he added. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)
