92 police execs may lose posts over illegal gambling

MANILA, Philippines - At least 92 police chiefs and precinct commanders were recommended for relief in line with the Philippine National Police (PNP) “one-strike” policy against illegal gambling.

According to a report prepared by Director Don Montenegro, head of the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM), the 92 police officials have not acted against unabated illegal gambling operations in their respective areas.

Montenegro’s recommendation was forwarded to the Command Group of the PNP and is now awaiting the signature of PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima for its implementation.

Interior and Local Secretary Secretary Mar Roxas earlier had ordered a no-nonsense crackdown against jueteng and other forms of illegal gambling.

Roxas personally tapped the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the Intelligence Group (IG) to spearhead the revitalized anti-illegal gambling drive all over the country.

Records show that from Feb. 14 to March 13 this year, joint CIDG-IG teams conducted 121 anti-illegal gambling operations nationwide, resulting in the arrest of 293 people. Of these operations, 29 were conducted jointly with the local police.

Of the 92 successful anti-illegal gambling operations, 17 were staged in Region 12; 13 in Region 4-A; nine in Regions 5, 6, and 8; seven each in the National Capital Region and Regions 13 and 10; three each in Regions 2, 3, and 11; two in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao; and one each in Regions 1, 7, and 9. The raids in Regions 4-B and the Cordillera Administrative Region yielded negative results.

In Metro Manila, those recommended for relief were the precinct commanders of Dagat-Dagatan in Caloocan City; Barangay San Miguel in Pasig City; Sta. Elena in Marikina City; and Barangays Central and Signal Village in Taguig City; and the police chiefs of Taguig City and Station 3 in Manila.