Negros police renew commitment to ruin gambling lords

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) in Negros Oriental renewed its declaration to pulverize illegal gambling in the province.

PNP Provincial Director Edward Caranza said the war against illegal gambling is on, but they intensified its campaign to bring down the problem into significant level, if not to completely eradicate it.

“Since then, this Provincial Police Office intensified its operations against all forms of criminalities including illegal gambling and illegal drugs,” Senior Superintendent Caranza told some members of the media in a command conference held at the PNP provincial headquarter in Camp Fernandez, Agan-an, Sibulan, Wednesday afternoon.

The command conference was attended by all chiefs of police in six cities and 19 towns in the province. Top officials of the Highway Patrol Group-Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) also attended.

Colonel Caranza said they already identified personalities who run the illegal numbers games Swertres and Bingo Milyonaryo in the province.

He challenged the chiefs of police to execute the law and prosecute gambling lords whoever they are, how influential they are and what position they may be in the society.

The police provincial director confirmed that some gambling lords in the province are influential politicians. He refused, however, to name names.

Tanjay City Chief of Police Domeneciano Distrito Jr. admitted that to prosecute gambling lords is just a dream.

Senior Inspector Distrito said they received information accusing some personalities as gambling lords but they do not have evidence to prove their allegations.

The police operatives, he said, usually confiscate evidences from the gambling ushers but not from the gambling lords.

In this connection, Caranza believed that if the public will not patronize any of the illegal gambling, it will stop sooner or later.

Despite the reality, Caranza insisted if the policemen will do their job, the campaign against all criminalities, not just illegal gambling, will become successful.

He warned chiefs of police that they will be relieved if they fail to destroy illegal gambling in their areas of responsibilities.

The command conference was held in connection with the pronouncement of Local Government Secretary Jessie Robredo that if the local police will fail to stop illegal gambling in Negros Oriental, he will send police forces from Central Visayas region or from Camp Crame to do it.

Police Provincial Deputy Director for Operation Alet Virtucio said they do not stop their campaign against illegal gambling.

In fact, he said, they received certificate of recognition from the PNP regional office this week after they successfully fought against illegal gambling.

In a prepared press statement, the provincial command said it arrested 452 suspects, confiscated more than P427,771 bet money and has so far filed 297 cases against the suspects.