NCRPO: 3 city police chiefs, 7 unit commanders sacked over illegal gambling

MANILA, Philippines — Three Metro Manila city police chiefs, and seven-unit commanders have been relieved of their posts over their alleged failure to curb illegal gambling operations in their respective areas, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said.

NCRPO acting chief Debold Sinas on Friday did not identify the three city police chiefs but hinted that two officials are from the Southern Police District and one is from the Northern Police District.

“Actually, there are warning orders na hindi pa na-implement, kakausapin pa ng district directors ‘yung respective mayors para hindi nakakahiya sa kanila,” Sinas said in a press conference in Kamuning Police Station 10.

(There are warning orders already but they have not been implemented yet because the district directors still have to inform their respective mayors first.)

Likewise, six police community precinct (PCP) commanders and one acting station commander were also relieved of their posts over “reported inactions for illegal gambling.”

The relief order is in line with the directive of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Archie Gamboa to immediately relieve police officials if they fail to curb illegal gambling within their jurisdiction.

Sinas said that the areas of the said unit commanders were found to be with illegal gambling operations, particularly “video karera” (horse race video game).

According to Sinas, those relieved will be assigned at the NCRPO’s regional headquarters for the meantime but some may be retained in their respective police districts.

“The Chief PNP believes na kapag hindi nag-action ‘yung tao namin sa baba, they are most likely, baka lang, they are on the take at saka cohort ng mga illegal gambling operators so i-relieve na lang to follow his policies on one-strike policy on illegal gambling sa PCP level,” the NCRPO official said in a press conference at the Quezon City Police District Station 10 on Friday.

(The Chief PNP believes that when police personnel do not take action on illegal gambling operations, they might be on the take so it’s better to just relieve them to follow Gamboa’s one-strike policy on illegal gambling on the PCP level.).

Edited by MUF