By Gideon C. Corgue
PAGADIAN CITY – The confiscation
of 24 video karera machines (VKMs) by the elements of Provincial Public Safety
Company (PPSC) over the weekend here was a manifestation of the seriousness of
the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) campaign against illegal gambling.
Zamboanga del Sur Police Provincial Director Sr.
Supt. Thomas Abellar in an interview with Philippine Information Agency (PIA)
staff said the confiscation of the VKMs was in compliance with Executive Order
No. 5 series of 2013 issued by Governor Antonio Cerilles last July 26.
Cerilles issued EO 5 to reconstitute the Anti-illegal Gambling Task Force
(AIGTF) of the province to stamp out illegal gambling activities in the area.
It can be recalled that three days after the
declaration of an all-out war against illegal gambling by the governor, the PPSC
operatives under the command of Supt. Michael Palermo was able to seize the VKMs
in barangays Balangasan, San Pedro and Sto. Niño.
Abellar said the series of raids of PPSC
operatives against illegal gambling would continue as “it destroys the moral
fiber of the people.”
Abellar said the confiscation of VKMs would serve
“as stern warning not only to gambling machine operators but to also to
policemen who acted as protectors of illegal gambling activities here.”
Abellar said after the governor’s announcement of
his campaign against illegal gambling, he immediately gave instruction to all
municipal police chiefs to intensify
efforts against all forms of illegal gambling in their respective municipalities.
When asked about the sanctions to be imposed upon
policemen who acted as protectors of illegal gambling activities, Abellar said
they would face the full force of the law once “they are proven to have acted
as maintainers or protectors of gambling machine operators.”
“Ang mga pulis na hindi sumusunod
ng instruction ay makatikim ng kasong criminal at administratibo(The policemen who
failed to follow my instruction will face criminal and administrative
charges),” Abellar said adding that “a one-strike policy will be applied to
policemen who will not be able to accomplish the said order in their areas of
jurisdiction.”
Abellar also encourages the public to report any illegal gambling
activities operating in their respective barangays at the following hotline
numbers: 099-931-1388 and 093-546-48088. (PIA9)