Cops warned vs jueteng

The five police district directors and 37 station commanders in Metro Manila were ordered yesterday to strictly observe a "no-take policy" in dealing with jueteng and other forms of illegal gambling.

The "no-take policy" is the term used by top officials of the Philippine National Police in warning subordinates against receiving protection money from illegal gambling operators.

Metro Manila police chief Director Edgar Aglipay warned that those caught violating the "no take policy" would be immediately relieved from their posts and slapped with administrative charges.

"If we were able to do it before, there’s no reason why we can’t do this again," said Aglipay.

During the administration of former PNP chief and now Senator Ping Lacson, the "no take policy" on jueteng was implemented and those caught violating the rule were transferred assignments outside Metro Manila.

Aglipay, who was the chief of the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) at that time, implemented Lacson’s directive vigorously.

When PNP Chief Director General Leandro Mendoza took over Lacson’s post last February, he declared that the policy will remain in effect.

But observers noted that certain police generals and other ranking police officials, including those assigned in Metro Manila, did not take Mendoza’s directive seriously as indicated by reports that jueteng and other forms of illegal gambling have resurfaced in several areas, particularly in Central Luzon.

"I’m ordering the police district directors and station commanders to strictly adhere to the ‘no take policy’ of General Mendoza," said Aglipay. "They must prevent their areas from being used to draw the winning combinations of jueteng."

While the priority program of the NCRPO is on the "total war against criminality," Aglipay explained that separate police teams should go after illegal gambling operators.

He warned that the successful raids of the Task Force Jericho of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Metro Manila areas would be included in his rating system of police districts and stations.

"Our campaign against jueteng will not take a back seat in our drive against criminality," Aglipay said.

Meanwhile, Aglipay created last week an "Anti-scalawag and Kotong Task Force" to go after corrupt policemen and traffic enforcers who mulct motorists in Metro Manila.

The police chief pointed out, however, that the campaign against mulcting policemen and traffic enforcers would not prosper without the cooperation of the public.

Those caught red-handed, according to Aglipay, would be dismissed from the police service.

The creation of the task force came in the wake of complaints by traders, motorists and jeepney, taxi and bus drivers against rampant mulcting activities by certain policemen and traffic enforcers in Metro Manila.