PRO-6 eyes politicos in illegal gambling racket
In recent months, there have been reports of resurgence of illegal gambling in Iloilo province.
Even Police Regional Office (PRO) VI admitted to this fact, as it ordered the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) to step its campaign against illegal gambling.
Part of this campaign, PNP Regional Director Chief Supt. Isagani Cuevas said, is to look into the possibility that some politicians are behind these unlawful activities.
“We are verifying that reports. For now, nothing came out certain,” Cuevas added.
But Cuevas debunked the possibility that politicians are the ones running the illegal operations in their turf.
“It’s quite remote. At this point in time, I don’t think, they would like to dip their hands into the actual operations. I believe that they would find other people to do the dirty work because once rumors of their involvement will come out, their image will be pulled down. I don’t think they would risk something like that,” he added.
Instead, the PRO-6 theorized that politicians could be more into the protection scheme.
“So, what we want our policeman to do is to conduct heightened operations against bet collectors. If they do it on a daily basis, there would come a time that financiers could not bail out their employees,” he added.
Aside from IPPO, Cuevas also tasked the Regional Intelligence Division (RID) to look into the involvement not only of politicians but police officials, as well.
“We don’t deny that it’s very possible. And they are also part of our investigation. Once a PNP personnel’s name came out, we start a probe. If we find probable cause, we will instigate summary dismissal proceedings,” he said adding that if a policeman is found guilty, he will be meted with corresponding sanctions.
It was gathered that PRO-6 relieved a policeman and had him reassigned to the Regional Public Safety Management Battalion because of his alleged connection in illegal gambling.
Three weeks ago, Cuevas said that IPPO under Senior Supt. Renato Gumban conducted a raid in Ajuy town where several illegal gambling paraphernalia were recovered.
Following the Ajuy raid, illegal gambling activities was also reported in Barotac Viejo.
In San Joaquin municipality, illegal cockfighting was also reported.
“But we already acted on the said reports,” Cuevas stressed.
The PNP pointed that the common illegal numbers games are daily double and lotteng (lotto ending).
“It’s hard to arrest the people behind lotteng because they get their winning from lotto,” he added. Since small town lottery (STL) is only legal in Iloilo City, Cuevas said that some collectors also exercised the trade in the province.
