PNP backs city team in operations vs illegal STL

CEBU, Philippines —  The Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification, and Enhancement (PROBE) team in Cebu City will have the support of the police once it begins to enforce the directive of Mayor Edgardo Labella to rid the city of illegal small town lottery (STL) operations.

This means that the PROBE team will have to close down STL outlets.

Labella issued the directive after the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) disclosed that it is losing at least P10 million of supposed revenue in Cebu City daily to illegal STL.

PCSO General Manager Royina Garma, the former chief of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) also challenged local cops to strengthen their operation against illegal STL.

She said STL can no longer operate in Cebu City and Mandaue City because PCSO has not renewed the franchise of operators.

“We always provide assistance everytime mangayo og assistance atong PROBE team nga mag-operate sa kadalanan provided naa na silay kuyog nga mga police kung asa nga area atong paanhaan og mga taga-station and even sa taga CESET (Cebu Environmental Sanitation and Enforcement Team),” said Lt. Colonel Wilbert Parilla, CCPO’s deputy director for operations.

Minimal Punishment

Parilla said CCPO’s operation against STL is ongoing but it is reportedly easy for operators to return to the streets because the penalty for those engaged in it is minimal.

“Gikan pa sa una, continuous pa ni pero sa atong giingon, ang sugal maka-sustain tungod sa minimal ra atong penalty. Sometimes gani, dunay instances, bettors, pamultahon lang ni sila,” Parilla said.

Those arrested can be fined as low as P500. Those arrested can post a cash bond of P30,000.

He said PROBE’s participation in the operation will be a big help to the police, considering that PROBE is in charge of cleaning up the city’s streets.

"Ang kani sa PROBE nga ilahang pagabuhaton, mas dako og tabang sa atoa. Naa silay authority sa paglimpyo sa dalan,” he added.

Parilla also called on barangays anew to help the police by identifying areas where these illegal STL operations are prevalent.

“Dapat, mutabang og ayuda ang mga kabarangayan kay mas labi silang nakahibalo unsa ug asa’ng dapitang barangay naay daghan nga area nag-operate og illegal numbers game… so mas dali sa atong kapulisan og sa PROBE sa pag-adto ug pag-responde kung dunay abag sa kabarangayan,” Parilla said. — JMO (FREEMAN)