By Anthony Giron
CAMP GEN. PANTALEON GARCIA, IMUS CITY, Cavite – The Cavite Police Provincial Office (PPO) has declared "war" against illegal gambling with the province-wide all-out drive against the prohibited games.
The action of the Cavite PPO was in consonance with the order of Brigadier General Vicente D. Danao Jr., Police Regional Office IV-A director, to rid Calabarzon (Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon) of all illegal gambling activities.
The "war" on illegal gambling in Cavite was confirmed by Major Dennis A. Villanueva, PPO-Public Information Office head, in a Viber message to the media.
Villanueva reported that over a hundred individuals involved in prohibited gambling have been arrested in the last three days in 29 police operations that were conducted by the police in the districts of Bacoor, Dasmarinas, Imus, the capital; and General Trias, Cavite City, and the municipalities of General Mariano Alvarez (GMA) and Noveleta.
Police teams have swooped down on "tupada" (illegal cockpit) and areas with groups playing "video-karera" (horse race on video), "tong-its" (card game), cara y cruz (coin game) and other illegal games in the seven areas.
All those that had been arrested were brought to the police stations for documentation and the filing of charges, Villanueva said.
Colonel Marlon Roque Santos, Cavite provincial police director (PD), ordered the drive against illegal gambling on Danao on Saturday.
Danao ordered all police chiefs in Calabarzon to act with dispatch against the illegal vices.
The RD implemented the national police's "One-Strike Policy" or the immediate relief for defying or reluctant police chiefs..
Danao had already relieved three police chiefs in Batangas from their posts in connection with the one-strike policy.
The mettle of the Cavite PPO against illegal gambling would be put to a test particularly against “sacla” or the old Spanish tarot card games.
The continued practice of holding “sacla” during wakes or vigils for the dead has been considered a ticklish issue in Cavite.
“Saclang-patay” reportedly operates in the province for “humanitarian reasons.”
Some residents seemingly allow “sacla” to operate, citing culture and tradition, and the “benefits” it render especially for the needy. However, the game has also been spotted as being played in wakes of some wealthy families.