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Police crackdown nets 236 illegal gamblers

LEGAZPI CITY --- More than 230 individuals have been arrested in regionwide operations to stamp out illegal gambling in Bicol region, a police official revealed recently.

BGen. Anthony Alcañeses, director of Police Regional Office in Bicol (PRO-5), said out of 118 operations carried out from January 1 to February 22, a total of 236 suspects were arrested for engaging in various illegal gambling activities such as jueteng, mahjong, sabong, STL bookies, sakla, and cara y cruz, among others.

The police operations also resulted in the confiscation of a total amount of P63,889.25.

Along with the anti-gambling operations, PRO-5 is also strictly implementing the “One Strike and No Take Policy,” which means, according to Alcañeses, any existence of illegal gambling activity within the area of responsibility of a police chief will lead to his relief from post.

Alcañeses warned his unit commanders who will fail to curb illegal activities in their respective area of responsibilities.

“We in the PNP will strictly adhere to and support the call of our PNP chief (Archie Gamboa) for the ‘No Take Policy’ and vow to end corruption and abuse from our ranks,” he warned.

He said police commanders who would be caught accepting bribes from gambling operators would be relieved from their posts and will be charged administratively if the evidence warrants.

Furthermore, he assured the public of his commitment in addressing the problem on illegal gambling as gambling is deemed to have been proven as a propagating cause of poverty and corruption.

Alcañeses also urged the members of communities to report to the police any illegal activities that they would see in their areas.

“Any (criminal) act must not be tolerated and (the perpetrator) will be charged in accordance with the law,” he said. (NNL-PIA5)

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