List of illegal gambling operators given to PNP as crackdown starts
By Aaron Recuenco
The names of small and big time illegal gambling operators have already been forwarded to all regional police commanders for immediate action, a top police official said on Wednesday.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Archie Gamboa (MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said he has warned his commanders that they would be relieved from their posts if they fail to stop the illegal gambling operations in their respective turfs.
"I have given the regional directors all the names forwarded to me by different sources and if you don't do anything about it, you will be answerable for inaction," Gamboa told reporters in a press briefing at Camp Crame.
In the past weeks, several police commanders, including one-star generals and police colonels in Luzon and the Visayas, were sacked from their posts for failing to meet Gamboa's expectations on the illegal gambling drive.
Gamboa said he would strictly monitor the compliance of his commanders in running after illegal gambling operators.
"In the next few months heads will roll if you don't follow my instructions of 'no take (policy)', and you are not doing anything to stop illegal gambling," said Gamboa referring to his order.
The official said the names of illegal gambling operators on his lists include those who only operate in certain provinces and regions and certain illegal gambling forms.
Each of the regional directors has a specific list of targets, according to Gamboa.
Gamboa explained that he goes with the simple logic that any illegal gambling activity only thrives because it is being protected.
"They have to do aggressive operations to convince me that they are not receiving something," said Gamboa.
"Because if you don't do aggressive operations and you don't start relieving your chiefs of police then I will not be convinced that you are doing something about it," he added.
Gamboa had earlier launched a renewed drive against illegal gambling.
He tasked Lt. Gen. Guillerno Eleazar, deputy chief for Operations of the PNP, to head a committee that would identify all the forms and modus operandi of illegal gambling operators.
Eleazar is expected to submit recommendations on how to defeat illegal gambling operations.
Gamboa also tapped the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) to run after policemen who are under the payola of gambling operators.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Archie Gamboa (MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said he has warned his commanders that they would be relieved from their posts if they fail to stop the illegal gambling operations in their respective turfs.
"I have given the regional directors all the names forwarded to me by different sources and if you don't do anything about it, you will be answerable for inaction," Gamboa told reporters in a press briefing at Camp Crame.
In the past weeks, several police commanders, including one-star generals and police colonels in Luzon and the Visayas, were sacked from their posts for failing to meet Gamboa's expectations on the illegal gambling drive.
Gamboa said he would strictly monitor the compliance of his commanders in running after illegal gambling operators.
"In the next few months heads will roll if you don't follow my instructions of 'no take (policy)', and you are not doing anything to stop illegal gambling," said Gamboa referring to his order.
The official said the names of illegal gambling operators on his lists include those who only operate in certain provinces and regions and certain illegal gambling forms.
Each of the regional directors has a specific list of targets, according to Gamboa.
Gamboa explained that he goes with the simple logic that any illegal gambling activity only thrives because it is being protected.
"They have to do aggressive operations to convince me that they are not receiving something," said Gamboa.
"Because if you don't do aggressive operations and you don't start relieving your chiefs of police then I will not be convinced that you are doing something about it," he added.
Gamboa had earlier launched a renewed drive against illegal gambling.
He tasked Lt. Gen. Guillerno Eleazar, deputy chief for Operations of the PNP, to head a committee that would identify all the forms and modus operandi of illegal gambling operators.
Eleazar is expected to submit recommendations on how to defeat illegal gambling operations.
Gamboa also tapped the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) to run after policemen who are under the payola of gambling operators.