Cops lose posts for ‘inefficiency’

FIVE men and women in uniform, including a police chief, were relieved of their posts for allegedly failing to curb illegal gambling.

Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Chief Marcelo Garbo Jr. has ordered the relief of Insp. Sarah Jean Recla, head of Mambaling Police Station, and four of her police personnel.

The order came after the Regional Special Operation Group (RSOG) of PRO 7 confiscated 11 video karera and 26 moli-moli machines in Barangay Duljo-Fatima, Cebu City.

Seizing the machines was supposed to be Recla’s responsibility.

Garbo, when interviewed by reporters, said the operation only proved that illegal gambling in the area is still rampant.

The raid was conducted last March 8 at 5 p.m. in Sitio Micabajay. The caretakers and bettors escaped.

It will be up to Acting Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director Mariano Natu-el Jr. to find replacements for the police officers, Garbo said.

“They should develop approaches on how to eradicate illegal gambling,” he said.

Recla respected the decision of Garbo, whom she considers like a father.

“He knows what’s best for us,” she told Sun.Star Cebu.

Despite the order, Recla said she was satisfied with her performance as police chief.

“Nabuhat nako akong gusto nako nga buhaton (I was able to do the things I wanted to do),” she said.

Recla assumed as police chief last December. In three months, she confiscated 95 illegal gambling machines.

Her team seized 11 machines last Saturday and six more yesterday afternoon in the same area.

Recla and her team are the latest officers relieved since the strict implementation of the PNP’s one-strike policy, which began last October.

The number of relieved officers is now 24 policemen in Central Visayas. They were all relieved under Garbo’s watch.

Last December, four police intelligence chiefs were also relieved after allegedly failing to prioritize their war against illegal gambling.

After attending a refresher course, they were reinstated.

Meanwhile, a policeman in Argao Police Station is in hot water after his father was caught in Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City being involved in illegal gambling.

The RSOG 7 raided Sitio Alaska, Barangay Mambaling last Friday at 10 p.m. and chanced upon Ernesto Lao in possession of illegal numbers game paraphernalia.

The raid was conducted upon complaints that jai-alai is rampant in the area.

PO2 Bernie Lao, the suspect’s son, said he didn’t know his father was involved in illegal gambling. He will have to answer for it, he said.

“Wala naman gud ko’y uli-uli sa amoa (I haven’t been home in a while),” he said.