07 Sep COCPO will Establish A Task Force To End Illegal Gambling In Two Months
To end illegal gambling in Cagayan de Oro City, Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (COCPO) chief Ronnie Francis Cariaga will form a task force to crack down illegal gambling operators in two months.
20 lotto outlets were forced to closed down due to major losses in sales and Cariaga stated before the City Council session on Tuesday, September 6 that he would end the gambling problem in the city.
Forming a task force to pursue large and small illegal operators was suggested by Astrid Bana, president of Misamis Oriental-Cagayan de Oro Lotto Agents Association.
Bana stated, “I hope you realize that the menace of illegal gambling is as big as the illegal drug activities. These two are twin problems in the society.”
Six years ago, lotto operators can earn P20,000 per day but when people practice illegal gambling, their income decreased to P2,000 a month, Bana said.
Cariaga said that they are having difficulties in arresting illegal gambling operators even though they already doubled their efforts. As he spoke, “Sa prosecutor pa lamang, drop na ang kaso. Isa sa reason is ang Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) is dili mo-kaso. Lisod gayud ta mokuha og search warrant. Kasagaran ang atong madakpan, mapriso lage pero dili raman magdugay.”
Cariaga said that the former COCPO authority only had 9 operations in six months but with him seated as officer-in-charge, police already conducted 20 operations against illegal gambling.
He stated, “Kulang man gyud kita ug manpower like in each of our police stations, we have only 5 to 7 operatives, and these operatives operate on all of the crimes. So ang solution is we strategize na dili ma-compromise and lain pud nato nga priority.”
The barangay has a significant role in identifying illegal gambling operators, Cariaga said.
News Source: SunStar
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