Compostela mayor's brother accused of intervening in operation vs. gambling

CEBU, Philippines - The brother of Compostela Mayor Ritchie Wagas allegedly intervened in an anti-gambling operation conducted by the Provincial Intelligence Bureau the other day.

Around 3:30 p.m. the other day, four personnel of Provincial Intelligence Bureau conducted a chance operation and caught a group of men behind the public market in the act of playing hantak.

The area is allegedly just near the police station.

Ten stands, nine tables, a flat slate, assorted coins and P1,360 in cash believed to be proceeds of the illegal gambling activity were seized from the area after the alleged gamblers scampered away after seeing the coming policemen.

The police said they were about to bring the evidence to the Compostela police when a man drove a multicab into their path and ran away with the keys.

They chased the man and collared him, but when they returned to the area Gilbert Wagas, brother of Mayor Ritchie Wagas, allegedly tried to stop them from taking the seized items to the police station.

The PIB asked for backup. Personnel from the Special Reaction Unit later responded to pacify the situation.

In a report over dyHP afternoon the other day, a PIB operative who requested anonymity called for the assistance of the media to cover that incident as Gilbert allegedly tried to stop their operation allegedly because they did not ask permission first from the municipal government to conduct the operation.

Gaquing, in an interview with reporters yesterday, said that the police no longer need to ask permission from the local government to conduct an operation against illegal activities. They, however, can coordinate with the municipality’s police force, he said.

“The bottom line is, naa’y illegal activity, so we implemented the law,” Gaquing said.

He also said that the police are apolitical, countering Wagas’ statements that the PIB operatives could have been used or influenced by a political party to malign his image.

Gaquing, however, said that he still has to receive a formal report from PIB chief Supt. Rodulfo Albotra to verify the said report that the municipality’s consultant tried to stop their operation. Although in a report over Balitang Bisdak yesterday, Wagas denied stopping the police from conducting the operation. — Niña G. Sumacot/BRP (THE FREEMAN)