16 cop chiefs relieved over illegal gambling

MANILA, Philippines — At least 16 police chiefs have been relieved from their posts for allegedly failing to address illegal gambling in their respective areas, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported yesterday.

Six of the police chiefs are from Southern Tagalog, five from Bicol, two from Central Mindanao and one each from Western Visayas, Southern Mindanao and Caraga.

On Aug. 1, PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa gave regional police directors 15 days to stop illegal gambling and ordered the relief of erring police chiefs.   

The PNP-National Operation Center said 6,692 persons were arrested and  P8,789,953.10 worth of gambling money confiscated in 13,476 operations from Jan. 1 to Nov. 19 this year.

Catalino Cuy, Department of the Interior and Local Government officer-in-charge, admitted that the campaign against illegal gambling is not easy.

“It is embedded in our culture…We need a national approach to end it,” Cuy said.

He said illegal gambling would only proliferate if tolerated by local government officials.

Meanwhile, 987 people were arrested in 1,144 operations against illegal loggers.

Police said they confiscated 882,951 board feet of illegally cut logs worth P22,234,612.