The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has started a crackdown on all illegal gambling operations in Metro Manila which are reportedly still prevalent amid the implementation of strict quarantine status.
NCRPO director Maj. Gen. Vicente Danao, Jr., said he had already instructed all police commanders in Metro Manila to run after the operators and ensure the filing of appropriate charges against them.
Following his order, at least 21 people were immediately arrested in two separate operations in Quezon City and Parañaque City.
In Quezon City, eight people were collared when operatives of the NCRPO Regional Intelligence Division (RID) and Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB) raided a gambling den in Mabini Street, Barangay Sta. Lucia, Novaliches.
In Parañaque City, 13 people were apprehended at a betting station of the Small Town Lottery in Barangay San Antonio. The STL in the area is allegedly a front for loteng operation.
The police operatives, led by Police Maj. Tirso Pascual of the Parañaque City Police Sub-Station 5, also confiscated some P16,759 bet money, 11 calculators, three columnar record book, five pads collection summary and STL paraphernalia.
Those arrested were charged with violation of the Presidential Decree 1602 or Illegal Gambling.
NCRPO spokesperson Lt. Col. Jenny Tecson said the aggressive campaign against illegal gambling is one of the anti-crime measures that Danao wants to focus on.
Danao earlier said that addiction to illegal gambling breeds other forms of criminality, especially theft and robbery, as the bettors would usually find ways to sustain their addiction to illegal gambling.