President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday ordered law enforcers to stay out of casinos, singling out Okada Manila in Parañaque City, which he said attracts usurers and kidnappers.
“‘Iyong Okada diyan… I’d like to announce, lahat kayong mga pulis umalis kayo diyan (That Okada… I’d like to announce, all of you police should get out of there). It’s crawling with usurers, kidnappers,” Duterte said at the launch of the Cavite Gateway Terminal in Tanza, Cavite.
“So ako ang magdaan diyan ‘pag nakita ko kayo… sagasaan ko kayo (If I pass by there and I see you, I’ll run you over),” he added.
Duterte said that he does not want to see even a police car near Okada, noting that those who will disobey will be dismissed from service.
“If you violate my order I will dismiss you from the service, that’s an order,” he said.
The President then warned that once he loses his patience, he will tap the elite Scout Rangers to man the “whole of Dewey (Roxas) Boulevard,” where the famous casino-resort is situated.
Duterte has repeatedly expressed his aversion towards casino in his public speeches.
In August, the President announced the government will stop issuing licenses for new casinos after he fired Nayong Pilipino Foundation (NPF) officials for entering into a lease contract with a Chinese casino operator. /je
READ: Duterte ‘hates gambling,’ rules out new casinos