House Deputy Majority Leader Erwin Tulfo on Monday voiced serious concerns over reports on rampant illegal gambling in the country.
At a congressional hearing, Tulfo, nominee of ACT-CIS party-list group, asked the House Committee on Public Order and Safety to summon all police regional directors to explain the reported illegal gambling operations in their respective jurisdictions.
Tulfo made the manifestation during the hearing on House Resolution 1549 or the investigation into the continued operation of illegal gambling activities in CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal,
and Quezon) conducted by the committee chaired by Sta. Rosa, Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez. `
“We’re talking of illegal gambling Mr. Chair, I suggest that we call all of the regional directors because illegal gambling has proliferated in the country, ”Tulfo said.
Fernandez backed Tulfo’s proposal to summon the police regional directors to the inquiry.
“We have to compare what is happening in Region 4A (Calabarzon) and what is happening in different parts of this country. For that, we will be allowing your motion that we need to invite all the regional directors, but insofar as the resolution that I filed is concern,” Fernandez said.
Meanwhile, Tulfo also revealed that the involvement of local officials, including politicians and the police authorities has made the campaign against illegal gambling more difficult.
“We must do something about it because the problem on illegal gambling has worsened,” Tulfo noted.
Tulfo added that political will is very important in solving the problem on illegal gambling.
“If you really don’t want it, then it won’t happen if you are a mayor,” Tulfo said.
“I haven’t been a mayor or governor, but I was in the media before, and I know what’s going on. If you are a governor or a mayor, you are the father of the province or the father of the city. If you said no, then it is a no” he said.
For his part, Iligan Rep. Celso Regencia echoed Tulfo’s statement that local leaders are the biggest factor in solving illegal gambling.
Regencia insisted that the actions of the local government and the policemen must be synchronized to solve the perennial problem on gambling.