MANILA, Philippines — The chief of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) on Tuesday belied reports that illegal gambling is rampant in the city, as alleged by no less than Philippine National Police chief Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa.
“Palagay ko hindi naman rampant (ang illegal gambling), at saka hindi rin naman kami tumigil sa aming tungkulin sa paghuli sa violators ng illegal gambling (I think illegal gambling is not rampant, and we did not shirk in our duty to apprehend violators of illegal gambling),” said QCPD chief Ronnie Montejo in a press conference in Kamuning police station.
Gamboa earlier said he received reports that illegal gambling is rampant in Quezon City, as well as other areas, prompting him to order the one-strike policy for unit commanders whose men are linked to illegal gambling.
Montejo claimed that his men had conducted continuous operations against illegal gambling. He said any illegal activity in the city will not be tolerated, and he will file charges against his own policemen should they be caught engaging in such.
A total of 2,587 operations against illegal gambling have been conducted in 2019, in which 7, 926 persons have been arrested.
He said that he has already coordinated with QC Mayor Joy Belmonte and all barangay officials about the illegal gambling campaign of the police district.
“Sakaling mayroon pa silang mamonitor na illegal gambling, huwag sila mag-atubili na i-text o i-tawag sa ‘kin para marespondihan namin (Should they monitor any illegal gambling in their area, they should not hesitate to text or call me so that we can respond to the situation),” Montejo said.
For his part, National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) acting chief Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas said that Metro Manila cops will intensify their drive against illegal gambling and will closely monitor the compliance of police officers in the operations.
Sinas said that he will give unit commanders time to comply with the directives.
“‘Yung walang huli na mga station sa QC at alam namin na mayroon doon na nagreport, ay pagbigyan ng panahon, 15 to 30 days at pagkatapos ay i-relieve na po sila. Ang kailangan talaga doon is to lessen, if not, eliminate talaga itong illegal gambling,” he said in the same press conference.
(QC stations who will not be able to apprehend anyone for illegal gambling will be given 15 to 30 days, and after that they will be immediately relieved.)
For their upcoming operations against illegal gambling, Sinas said the directive to police officers is to also arrest owners of establishments that allowed operators of illegal gambling to operate in their area.
“Kung saan nakalagay ‘yung video karera, pati ‘yung may-ari noon, isasama at pa-file-an ng kaso. For example, nilagay sa tindahan, ‘yung may-ari ng tindahan ay kukunin at iimbestigahan at pa-file-an ng kaso (Even the owner of the establishment where the illegal gambling is occurring will also be arrested and charged),” Sinas said.
He added that the owners of establishments were given as much as 20 percent of the total profit of illegal gambling operators for them to utilize their space.