• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Police Regional Office 6 yesterday issued a stern warning that it will not spare anybody in the intensified campaign against all forms of illegal gambling, following the recent arrest of a policeman and personnel of the Bureau of Fire and Protection in Iloilo, for involvement in illegal gambling.
The arrest of two police and jail officers was made after PBrig. Gen. Jack Wanky, regional police director of Westert Visayas, ordered all police units, including the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office and Bacolod City Police Office, to exert their best efforts in the anti-illegal gambling drive, regional police spokesman PLt. Col. Arnel Solis said.
In Negros Occidental, the widespread operations of Small Town Lottery “bookies”, which is not sanctioned by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, has been the subject of a complaint by a legitimate STL operator in the province.
The bookies or collectors are reported to be part of a syndicate that operates the illegal numbers game in Negros Occidental, using STL draws of the PCSO.
From April 28 to May 3, NOCPPO reported the arrest of five STL bookies, identified as Antonio Losocon, Perla Beloan, Jay Tagonesa, Joemarie Lozada, and Razel Garcia in Sipalay City, Candoni, E.B. Magalona, and Toboso, which yielded P1,287 in cash bets and legitimate STL paraphernalia.
As of this time, it was not yet determined if charges were filed against the arrested suspects.
Solis however said that the apprehending police officers are required to regularly submit reports on the status of cases filed against illegal gambling violators.
He added that reports of police officers allegedly involved in illegal gambling are also being monitored.
During his assumption of the PRO 6 command, Wanky reminded policemen of the “no-take policy” in the campaign against illegal gambling, which prohibits all PNP members from taking any money from illegal gambling operations, as they would face stiffer sanctions.*
