Calamba, Laguna—The regional director of the Calabarzon police on Monday warned his men of the Philippine National Police’s one-strike policy on illegal gambling and vowed to dismiss any municipal chief of police involved in the illicit activity.
Police Brig. Gen. Vicente Danao said that in line with PNP chief Gen. Archie Gamboa’s directive on a “no-take” policy, “I am publicly declaring and strictly ordering our personnel to continue the war against all forms of illegal gambling.”
“All Chiefs of Police who are caught with illegal gambling operations in their Areas of Responsibility [AOR]will be immediately dismissed,” Danao added in a statement at Camp Vicente Lim here.
Three station commanders had already been relieved from duty over reports illegal gambling continued nonstop in their areas.
Danao noted that he had ordered the relief of San Pablo City Police Station Chief Lt. Col. Eliseo V. Bernales; San Juan, Batangas Station Chief Lt. Col. Rosell del Mundo Encarnacion; and Lian, Batangas Station Chief Maj. Domingo D. Ballesteros.
“The directive from the National Headquarters is to conduct nationwide intensified crackdown against all forms of number games, yet despite this, the illegal gambling operations in these three areas are still rampant,” said the regional director.
In San Pablo City, six “video karera” machines were confiscated after the joint elements of Laguna Intelligence Branch and the San Pablo City Police Station raided an operation at Brgy. Del Remedio Patria Village on Friday.
On the same date, the Batangas Intelligence Branch arrested two persons and confiscated ₱1,098 in gambling money in San Juan, Batangas.
Four persons were also arrested in a similar operation in Lian, with a set of color game “tapete,” three pieces of dice, and ₱2,150.00 were confiscated.
“I have been firm in my orders on the One Strike Policy on unit commanders in the entire region against illegal games and gambling operations. I will relieve you immediately,” Danao added.
Earlier, the general instructed the five provincial directors under him to activate their respective intelligence units to conduct operations on illegal activities.
Provincial director were given “two strikes” if there are illegal activities in their province, Danao said.
“The campaign against illegal gambling and any forms of number games in the entire region shall be relentless and to those Chiefs of Police who will fail, you will be put in your place,” he said.