IF ACTING Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) director Police Col. Engelbert Soriano would have his way, funeral wakes in Cebu City will be a more solemn affair.
After the Police Regional Office Director Brig. Gen. Albert Ignatius Ferrer said they will allow only one table to be used for gambling during wakes in their campaign against illegal gambling, the acting CCPO director wants no gambling at all in his area of responsibility.
“Here in Cebu City, we discourage it. We won’t allow even a single table. That will just create controversies and raise intrigues on our part and we don’t need that,” said Soriano.
Soriano said he understands that it is the Filipinos’ practice to gamble during wakes since a portion of the gambling money is turned over to the bereaved family. However, he pointed out that friends and family of the deceased attend the wake even without gambling.
The PRO 7 is conducting an anti-gambling drive to implement Presidential Decree 1602. PRO 7 will also check wakes in barangays that exceed nine days since these may be used for gambling operations. (AYB /RGT)