Bicol police intensifies drive vs illegal gambling
January 21, 2010 12:26 pm
By Mar S. Arguelles
LEGAZPI CITY, Jan. 21 — Bicol police operatives arrested 409 people involved in illegal numbers game activities and confiscated gambling paraphernalia in the region as it stepped up its drive against anti-illegal gambling.
The arrest of the people and confiscation of some P53,613 bet money were made barely two weeks of intensified anti-illegal gambling operations in two Bicol provinces alone.
Bicol PNP acting Regional Director Police Chief Supt. Cecilio B. Calleja Jr., said illegal gambling activities popularly known as “jueteng”, an illegal number game, is reportedly rampant in Camarines Sur and Sorsogon provinces, while jueteng operation disguised as the easy two games of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) are operating in selected towns in Albay, and Camarines Norte.
In the island provinces of Catanduanes and Masbate, the ending games from PBA games flourishes.
Reports said jueteng operators are raking in millions of pesos in three daily draws from gambling officionados in the two provinces of Bicol.
Calleja said the intensified drive is the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Bicol’s resolve and commitment to eradicate all forms of illegal gambling activities in the region.
The operation has resulted to the filing of criminal charges now pending and being tried in various courts in the region against persons involved including their financiers.
Among those considered gambling offenses defined and penalized under illegal gambling act are card games, "pula puti", cara y cruz, fruit game machines, "sakla", illegal cockfighting, lotteng and jueteng.
With the successful no non-sense drive against illegal gambling, PNP Bicol has sent the message and warning against would-be violators that law enforcers will never get tired of enforcing the law and without fear and favor.
“For police commanders who cannot perform the task of stopping gambling activities in their turf will be replaced by those capable and willing to accomplish the task,” Calleja said. (PNA)
FFC/MSA/cbd
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