Mayor to join police in illegal gambling raids

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said he was willing to join the police in raiding illegal gambling dens.

Speaking at a police-led rally against illegal gambling in Fuente Osmeña, the mayor said joining police field operations would send a strong message that curbing all forms of illegal gambling in Cebu City was the job of government officials and not just the police.

The rally, which started at 9 a.m., gathered a crowd of 4,000 to 5,000, according to Senior Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe, Cebu City police chief.

A total of 126 illegal gambling machines such as video carrera, moli-moli and pinball were destroyed in public during the event.

The mayor and police officials swung axes to smash some of the machines.

Some barangay officials who joined the rally also took an oath to support anti-gambling operations of the police.

Rep. Pastor Alcover of Anad party-list attended the rally and gave P250 each to at least 30 persons carrying placards with messages against illegal gambling.

Lorna Damalerio, barangay captain of Sapangdaku in Cebu City, confirmed that illegal gambling exists in her barangay.

Mohammad Saed, leader of the Kinasang-an Unified Muslim Brotherhood Organization (Kumbo), said his group would help the police in eradicating illegal gambling activities.