3 Bicol police chiefs facing ouster for not stopping illegal gambling

The PNP chief gave regional police directors across the country a 15-day deadline to stop illegal gambling particularly the illegal numbers game “jueteng.” (PNA PHOTO)

LEGAZPI CITY— For the failure to rid of illegal gambling operations in their respective areas, at least three town police chiefs in Bicol are facing removal from their posts after failing to meet the 15-day anti-illegal gambling deadline by the Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Director General Ronald Dela Rosa.
These town police chiefs are assigned in the provinces of Camarines Norte and Sorsogon, said Senior Inspector Maria Luisa Calubaquib PNPO Bicol spokesperson.
She declined to name the town police chiefs as they are still waiting for the official relief order signed by Chief Supt. Antonio Gardiola, Bicol police director.
Calubaquib said investigation team sent to check on the status of the campaign in their towns showed these police officers failed to wipe out illegal gambling operations in their respective areas.
The PNP chief gave regional police directors across the country a 15-day deadline to stop illegal gambling particularly the illegal numbers game “jueteng.”
PNP report indicated that for the period Aug. 1 to 15, various police units have arrested 1,511 persons involved in illegal gambling including 20 were gambling operators while close to P300,000 in bet money were confiscated.
Of the 620 anti-illegal gambling operations carried out by the PNP, Calubaquib said 70 were found involved in STL bookies while three in jueteng operations.
In Albay, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan has passed a resolution last Aug. 2 recommending to the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) for the cancellation of the Agency agreement and the authority granted to Lucky V Prime Enterprise Corporation to operate the Small Town Lottery (STL) operation in Albay for allegedly failing to comply with the agreements stipulated in the STIL Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).
Albay Vice Governor Harold Imperia, in an interview, said that all the provisions under the IRR were violated by the Lucky V operator.
He said jueteng still exists in the guise of STL as one cannot distinguish a “bookies” from a PCSO STL-bet collector who under the IRR should wear a prescribe identification card and vest and must issue a receipt.
He said the result of the daily draw is supposed to be open to public viewing through a CCTV network and from radio and TV stations operating in Albay.
Imperial also expressed disappointment over the share that the PCSO remits following the two months STL operations.
The provincial treasurer only received P18,000 from the PCSO Charity Fund, Imperial said
He also added that under PCSO Presumptive Monthly Retail Receipt (PMRR) the operator should have collected P77 million in gross monthly draws.
Of this collection 55 percent goes to prizes, 30 percent to the Charity Fund and the rest goes to operations. (PNA)