PNP chief wants elimination of video karera machines

ILLEGAL GAMBLING. Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, Gen. Archie Gamboa leads the destruction of 56 video karera machines seized during the intensified anti-illegal gambling operations conducted by the 12 police stations and other units of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD). The event was held at Camp Karingal, Sikatuna Village, Quezon City on Friday (Jan. 31, 2020). (PNA photo by Lloyd Caliwan)

MANILA — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa on Friday wants regular destruction of video karera (horse racing video game) machines as part of continuous efforts to topple illegal gambling in the country.

Gamboa led the destruction of 56 units of video karera machines with Quezon City Police District (QCPD) chief, Brig. Gen. Ronnie Montejo to show their accomplishment in the anti-illegal gambling drive.

“Gusto ko gawin destruction every week (I want the destruction to be done every week),” Gamboa told reporters in a chance interview after the event held at Camp Karingal, Quezon City.

The destroyed units were confiscated from the 22 various anti-gambling operations in Quezon City, Montejo said.

The PNP chief reiterated that all forms of illegal gambling are prohibited in the country such as jueteng, video karera, tupada (cockfighting), among others.

Gamboa earlier ordered a one-strike policy among police officials who would fail to stop illegal gambling operations in their areas of jurisdiction.

He said the actions of all police unit commanders in enforcing the campaign against corruption and crimes against public morals, particularly illegal gambling would weigh “heavily” in the succeeding rounds of individual performance evaluation.

He urged the public to help the police to beat the operators of illegal gambling.

“We seek the help of the community, tulungan ang kapulisan (We seek the help of the community to help the police),” Gamboa said.

He said that he was satisfied with the action of the QCPD, which he singled out recently for its accomplishment against illegal gambling.

For his part, Montejo said the drive against illegal gambling in the city would never stop.

“Maganda naman po ang ginagawa ng station commanders (The works of the station commanders have been good),” Montejo told reporters.

He commended his officers and men for their relentless efforts in the conduct of anti-illegal gambling operations which yielded significant arrests and confiscation of paraphernalia.

Montejo also encouraged the public to report to authorities if they know any illegal gambling operations in the area so that the police can immediately respond to it.

Recently, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief, Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas ordered the arrest of the owner of establishments found hosting video karera machines.

Sinas also said that he wanted more teeth in the operations.

Sinas said those leasing their spaces to video karera operators get a huge profit from this activity.

“Most of the stores allow it because as per our source, they received 20 percent of the total profit. It is really big and yet they still deny it,” he said in Filipino.

From Oct. 12, 2019 to Jan. 19, 2020, Sinas said the five Metro Manila police districts confiscated a total of PHP1,508,658 cash from 2,587 operations against various forms of illegal gambling, including video karera, and arrested 7,926 persons.

The five districts covered by the NCRPO are the Manila Police District (MPD), Quezon City Police District (QCPD), Northern Police District (NPD), Southern Police District (SPD), and Eastern Police District (EPD).