4 cops nabbed for drinking, gambling in public

MANILA, Philippines — Four police officers were arrested by the Philippine National Police – Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (PNP-IMEG) after they were spotted consuming liquor and gambling in public.

Police on Thursday identified the arrested officers as Staff Sergeant Erwin Gobis , Senior Master Sergeant Demetrio Laroya and Corporal Ariel Pasion — all assigned at the PNP Health Service — and Staff Sergeant Gerry Ocampo from the PNP Crime Laboratory.

The PNP-IMEG reported that the operation was conducted inside an eatery along 3rd Avenue in Barangay Bagong Lipunan in Cubao, Quezon City on Wednesday at around 10 p.m.

Likewise arrested during the operation were Leo Ocinar, a non-uniformed personnel of the PNP, former policeman Fidel Agustin and Teddy Carpio, owner of the eatery operating an online betting game (cockfighting).

Arresting officers found bet money, two television sets, a digital video recorder for a closed-circuit television camera, a roll of betting tickets, two digital boxes and 23 bottles of wine.

The PNP-IMEG, tasked to go after rogue cops, said the operation stemmed from reports that several police officers are frequenting the eatery to gamble and go on a drinking binge.

The arrested police officers and pieces of evidence are now under the custody of the PNP-IMEG.

Lt. Col. Renante Lambojo, Office-in-Charge, Chief-of Staff of the police unit, said in a text message to reporters that the arrested suspects will face charges for violation of the Presidential Decree No. 1602 that prescribes stiffer penalties on illegal gambling as amended in relation to RA 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

The arrested police officers will also face cases for violation of the RA 6713 Code of Conduct and Ethical Standard for Public Officials and Employees, said Lambojo. (Editor: Gilbert S. Gaviola)