Campaign Against Illegal Gambling is Still in Progress

24 Aug Campaign Against Illegal Gambling is Still in Progress

On August 23, Tuesday, the campaign against illegal gambling is still ongoing amidst the war against illegal drugs said by an official of Northern Mindanao Police Regional Office (PRO).

Police have been pursuing illegal gambling operators said PRO-Northern Mindanao spokesperson, Superintendent Surki Sereñas.

A supposed bookmaker named, Maricel Sumalinog was arrested at Barangay Macabalan, Cagayan de Oro City by units of Police Station 5 last August 22, Monday.

Marked money worth P100, P480 revenue, P100 bet money, a laptop, printer, two empty rolled cash receipts, cellphones and other gambling paraphernalia were confiscated by the authorities.

Sereñas stated, “Let it be clear that the campaign against illegal gambling remains. Kung naa dakpon pwede nato dakpon.”

Illegal gambling operators, protectors, financiers, and individuals who are involved in illegal gambling will be surely determined, Sereñas confidently stated. He added that police officer who protects and accept bribes from illegal gambling is easy to identify.

Barangay officials always have the information about illegal gambling operators in their corresponding area according to Sereñas.

Sereñas said, “I’m not sure if naa tay listahan pero kung na-identify nato ang mga drug personalities, labaw na ni sa illegal gambling labi na kay kini sila dili mosukol, dali ra ang pag-identify.”

As what Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa said, “You just wait. After 6 months, if we win our campaign against illegal drugs, we will shift our efforts. We’ll hit illegal gambling.” Campaign against illegal gambling will be PNP’s next priority.

Sereñas supported, “We are beating the deadline and once malampuson ta sa campaign against illegal drugs, it remains to be seen if mahimong successful. Definitely, we will follow to focus our energy on illegal gambling as what the PNP chief announced.”

Once the PNP Chief gives a go signal to the campaign against illegal gambling then police officers who were supposed to be involved would stop their negotiations, Sereñas hopefully stated.

For the time being, all police units should heighten their operations against illegal gambling in their own field of responsibility.