Over illegal gambling six police intel chiefs relieved

CEBU, Philippines - At least six police intelligence officials in Central Visayas will be relieved from their posts starting Saturday for not taking seriously the campaign against illegal gambling.

These chiefs of the Intelligence Office of seven police offices in the region are currently undergoing assessment and evaluation as ordered by Police Regional Office-7 director Marcelo Garbo, Jr.

Garbo tasked Supt. Pablo Labra II, who heads the Regional Intelligence Division, to head in the evaluation.

These intelligence chiefs come from the police offices of Cebu City, Cebu Province, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, Negros Oriental Province, and Siquijor.

“We feel that the regional (office) which operates and seriously undertaking operations against illegal gambling,” Garbo said yesterday.

Garbo said he had tasked these officers to intensify intelligence monitoring against illegal gambling in their areas of responsibility (AOR).

But only PRO-7’s Regional Special Operations Group continues to confiscate gambling machines and arrest suspected gamblers from their AOR, he said.

“Wala silang nahuhuli medyo so siguro proper lang naman mabigyan sila ng leksyon at ma-relieve sila,” he said.

According to Garbo, being an intelligence officer is a sensitive and significant position that entails a lot of hard work and dedication.

“Pero parang feeling ko hindi sila nagre-react, eh... Papalitan natin sila, iyong masigasig at mapursigi sa anti-illegal gambling,” he said.

Labra said the chief of the Intelligence Office in Bohol is exempted as he just assumed office four days ago.

“He’ll be given consideration,” Labra said.

Labra said these six intelligence officials have signed certificates of non-existence of illegal gambling in their area.

“As an intelligence officer, he should come up with intelligence reports on illegal gambling and the report should be dismissed to the operatives within the headquarters. However, dili satisfactory ang ilang performance,” the RID chief said.

Most of the operations of RSOG were conducted in Cebu City and Cebu province.

Chief Insp. Romeo Santander, intelligence officer of the Cebu City Police Office, refused to comment on the issue.

Respect the assessment

Supt. Rodolfo Albotra, Provincial Intelligence Branch chief, said they cannot question Garbo’s wisdom and that they respect his assessment.

Albotra said that as far as PIB is concerned, they are doing their part in eliminating illegal numbers game in the province.

He said the PIB even top the validation of performance evaluation rating in all intelligence units in Central Visayas.

“Kung mao man gani ang assessment ni RD then we have to double our efforts,” Albotra said in a phone interview.

Three men arrested

In another development, the Regional Intelligence Branch lead by Sr. Insp. Mark Gifter Sucalit, in coordination with the Consolacion police, arrested three men who were caught in the act tallying number combinations in Barangay Pulpogan, Consolacion Tuesday afternoon.

Now detained at the Consolacion Police Station are Renato Capangpangan, 46, believed to be a masiao coordinator; Gilbert Igot Desierto, 44, of Barangay Tugbongan; and Haiwatta Cuizon, 39, of Barangay Jugan.

About P2,168 in cash was confiscated from Capangpangan while assorted illegal numbers game paraphernalia were seized from Desierto and Cuizon.

Their arrest was carried out following a tip from a concerned citizen.

As part of Garbo’s directive, the acting police chief of the town, Insp. Jason Mangaron, will be under investigation over the existence of illegal gambling in his area. — /LPM (FREEMAN)