Illegal gambling, CV police chiefs under evaluation

CEBU, Philippines - For failing to meet their targets versus illegal gambling, nearly all chiefs of police in Central Visayas are under pre-charge evaluation, Police Regional Office 7 Director Danilo Constantino said yesterday.

“I signed and approved the conduct of pre-charge evaluation against almost all chiefs of police,” Constantino stated, adding, “Baka wala nang matira sa ating mga hepe.”

Constantino said these station chiefs have set their own targets on illegal gambling operations in their respective jurisdictions, but failed to meet them.

“They themselves set the target so we expect them to reach that target,” Constantino said.

The PRO 7 director did not name the police chiefs involved, but to show, the Cebu Provincial Police Office alone has 50 police stations and 11 under the Cebu City Police Office. The rest are in Negros Oriental and Siquijor.

Constantino clarified, though, that the pre-charge evaluation does not necessarily mean the station chiefs have been falling short in PNP’s campaign against illegal gambling.

“Maybe wala na talagang nag-e-exist na illegal gambling sa area nila; they will show proof on that,” he said.

The Regional Intelligence Division (RID) 7 will do the assessment.

Once they are proven to be remiss in their jobs, the police chiefs involved will face investigation and will most likely face either suspension or dismissal from service.

Yesterday morning, at least 262 illegal gambling machines were destroyed at the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) grounds.

The illegal gambling machines – video karera, mole-mole  and bingo slots – were confiscated through operations conducted by the Regional Special Operation Group (124 machines), Cebu Provincial Police Office (16 machines) and Cebu City Police Office (122 machines).

“No one is a sacred cow and the one strike policy is still standing,” Constantino said.

He added that illegal gambling is no longer rampant in the region, but prevails in certain areas.

“All provinces are affected but not that rampant and this means that we still have to intensify the campaign against illegal gambling,” Constantino said.

CPPO Director Sr. Supt. Noel Gillamac also said masiao and swertres are rampant in the province compared to games that use gambling machines. This is why most of those confiscated by the police in their operations are stubs, tally sheets, and other illegal numbers game paraphernalia. — (FREEMAN)