THE Cagayan de Oro police’s campaign against illegal gambling is going into high gear, with police saying they will go after not only illegal gambling operators but will also arrest patrons caught placing bets.
Chief Inspector Ariel Phillip Pontillas, Agora police station commander, said bettors particularly of illegal swertres, could get arrested as police intensify the fight against illegal gambling.
“In connection sa all-out war against illegal gambling, gi-discourage nato tanan apil bettors, tanan patronage anang gambling to stop kay dili man na makaayo kay naa man gyuy balaod ana nga bawal gyud siya kay naa man kitay legal nga pamaagi,” Pontillas said.
Chief Inspector Maricris Mulat, Divisoria police station commander, said whenever necessary, they would arrest bettors too but emphasized that they prioritize the arrest of operators.
Mulat said for the past months, what they have been arresting were operators of video karera, coordinators, financers, and the owners of houses where the machines were operated.
“Ang among madakpan gyud is kadtong mga nagpadula, coordinators sa video karera. Kung sa bettors, wala may specific instruction gyud nga dakpon sila, murag discretion nalang siguro sa amo as mga station commanders. Pero for me, nganong dili man diba kung kinahanglan na gyud but sa pagka-karon ang giuna namo ang nagpadula lang gayud,” she said.
According to Republic Act 9287, a penalty of imprisonment from 30 days to 90 days may be imposed on a person caught patronizing various forms of illegal gambling.
City Councilor Romeo Calizo, chair of the committee on police, fire, and public safety, said it would be up to the authorities whether they would also arrest bettors, aside from the illegal operators themselves.
“Sila man gud ang nakabalo sa enforcement schemes and limitations. Ang amo lang, nagpasa lang mi ug resolution nga istriktohan gyud dapat ang pag-enforce, pero sila gyud ang maka-interpret kung apil ba gyud ang bettors kay sila man nakabalo sa enforcement” he said.
“But we strongly warn the bettors, kabalo man gyud dapat sila kung asa ang legal ug unsay illegal, so they should know what to do and the consequences,” he adds.
The City Council earlier summoned police officials and lotto operators to give an overview of the weight of illegal gambling problem in the city.
Police Superintendent Ronnie Francis Cariaga, Cagayan de Oro City Police Office chief, then vowed to put an end to illegal gambling after within 1-2 months.
An official of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office-Misamis Oriental said the heightened police campaign has been yielding results.
PCSO’s Divina Salvacion said sales of local lotto operators have improved, saying that lotto operators have reported double increase in sales immediately just two days after Cariaga appeared to the city council.