Anti-illegal gambling drive: 3 General Santos City police commanders relieved

MANILA, Philippines—Three police station commanders from General Santos City have been removed from their posts for their alleged failure to stop illegal gambling in their areas of responsibility, a Philippine National Police spokesman said Tuesday.

Relieved in line with the PNP’s “one strike policy,” which became effective July 12, 2012, were Chief Inspector Leo Sua of Police Station 1, Chief Inspector Samuel Cadungon of Station 2, and Senior Inspector Hoover T. Antonio of Station 6, according to Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr.

“The three (station commanders) are undergoing pre-charge evaluation for alleged neglect of duty after illegal gambling activities were uncovered within their area during anti-illegal gambling operations launched recently by the PNP Anti-Illegal Gambling-Special Operations Task Force (AIG-SOTF),” Cerbo said.

Earlier the PNP chief, Director General Nicanor Bartolome, activated the AIG-SOTF to conduct general law-enforcement operations against illegal gambling including “last two,” which is based on the last two digits of official lotto results.

Under the one strike policy, “any successful anti-illegal gambling operation by AIG-SOTF in a town or city shall result in the relief of the chief of police or precinct commander,” Cerbo said.—Jamie Marie Elona