7th police chief sacked over jueteng

MANILA, Philippines - The chief of police of Antipolo City was sacked yesterday, a day after the regional police raided a suspected jueteng den in the city.

Superintendent Manuel Pion became the seventh police chief sacked from his post since Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Raul Bacalzo imposed a “one strike” policy on jueteng.

Bacalzo had warned police officials that they faced immediate relief and prosecution if they allowed illegal gambling operations in their area or.

With the stricter “one-strike policy,” the concerned police official having jurisdiction over the area would be immediately relieved from duty.

Calabarzon police director Chief Superintendent Samuel Pagdilao Jr. ordered the relief of Pion after operatives of the Regional Intelligence Division (RID) arrested several people at a suspected jueteng den in Barangay Mambugan.

“We have confiscated evidence showing that jueteng is being played there so he (Pion) is relieved under the ‘one-strike’ policy of the chief PNP,” Pagdilao said.

Pion was the fourth chief of police ordered relieved by Pagdilao since he assumed command of the Calabarzon police last year.

Pion was reassigned to the holding center of the Rizal Provincial Police Office (RPPO), while his deputy would temporarily take over his post.

Pagdilao said they are investigating the suspects in trying to identify the operator of the illegal numbers game.

Pagdilao said he would coordinate with Antipolo City Mayor Nilo Leyble for the appointment of a permanent replacement for Pion.