PNP: No betting for cops

ALL POLICEMEN—whether on duty or not for Sunday’s megafight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr.—should keep their betting money in their pockets or else.

The Philippine National Police on Friday warned its men not to place bets on any of the fighters, saying that anyone found to have made a bet would be investigated.

“No one wins in gambling and a policeman’s salary is small. If they place bets, the risk of winning or losing is 50-50. It’s better for them not to place bets at all,” PNP spokesperson Senior Supt. Bartolome Tobias told reporters in Camp Crame.

Under the law, public officials and government employees are prohibited from engaging in any form of gambling.

Tobias urged the public to report to the PNP any policemen who places a bet on the Pacquiao-Mayweather match.

He also reminded policemen, particularly those on duty on Sunday, to focus on their task of maintaining peace and order throughout the country as Pacquiao takes on Mayweather in what has been touted as the “fight of the century.”

Historically, the crime rate drops to nearly zero in Metro Manila every time Pacquiao has a boxing match.

The PNP will host a free live screening of the bout for its personnel and their dependents at its multipurpose center in Camp Crame.

Tobias said the PNP was throwing its full support behind Pacquiao whatever the outcome of his fight against Mayweather.

“The PNP wishes him all the best; we believe that even before the fight, Pacquiao is the winner,” he added.