ILOILO – The Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) assured stringent anti-illegal gambling monitoring and operations.
IPPO director, Police Colonel Ronaldo Palomo, requested 7 Aces Games and Amusement Corp., the sole Authorized Agent Corporation (AAC) operating in Iloilo, a list of areas with legitimate agents.
“We requested from them who were legitimate para mabal-an naton kon sin-o ang dapat dakpon. And we will require all the chiefs of police that those who are on the list will render operations,” Palomo told the Iloilo Provincial Capitol Press Corps.
As of this writing, 7 Aces Games and Amusement Corp. has yet to submit the list.
The IPPO, meanwhile, continues to monitor especially after Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. ordered to intensify the campaign. The governor said the existence of illegal gambling operators results in revenue loss.
Meanwhile, from Jan. 1 to March 1, the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) recorded 227 anti-illegal gambling operations that resulted in the arrest of 718 individuals and the confiscation of P175,949 bet money.
PRO-6 director Police Brigadier General Leo Francisco earlier reiterated the one-strike policy on illegal gambling.
Francisco ordered unit commanders, including provincial and city directors, to intensify the campaign.
“Marami tayong natanggap na reports na rampant ang illegal gambling like mga tong-its, illegal numbers or bookies at even sa peryahan,” he said.
The Regional Intelligence Division’s validating team would look over how unit commanders and police chiefs operate, he added.
“Kapag nag-operate ang PRO-6 sa certain municipality at positive ‘yong result at twice na operations, the police chief will be relieved,” Francisco said.
The top cop said this initiative will ensure compliance and will elicit positive results on the ground.
“I am appealing to the community to help us. Report to the nearest police station any information on illegal gambling, and I assure you that it will be treated with confidentiality. Magtulungan po tayo sa layuning masugpo ang ilegal na pasugal sa ating komunidad,” Francisco added./PN
