CEBU CITY – The chief of Bohol Provincial Police Office (BPPO) denied the allegations of a retired police officer who accused Bohol Gov. Aris Aumentado of involvement in illegal gambling activities in the province.
Police Col. Lorenzo Batuan said the allegations by retired Police Col. Teopisto Cabagnot against Aumentado are baseless.
Batuan said he is ready to face Cabagnot, who also accused him of accepting bribes from gambling lords.
Contrary to Cabagnot’s accusations, Batuan said Aumentado’s first marching order when he assumed the post as BPPO chief in 2022 was to go after illegal drugs, illegal gambling, loose firearms, and other illegal activities.
Batuan refuted Cabagnot’s allegations that he was receiving money from people involved in illegal gambling.
“I will not destroy my name as a true-blooded Boholano,” said Batuan in a press conference on Thursday, March 7.
Batuan was joined in the press briefing by Police Lt. Col. Joseph Berondo, provincial operations and management unit head; Police Lt. Col. Hernan Legaspi, provincial administrative and resource management unit head, and Police Lt. Col. Norman Nuez, BPPO information officer.
They presented the BPPO's accomplishments for 2023 until March.
The report said 722 successful arrests were made in the campaign against illegal gambling, drugs, loose firearms, illegal logging, illegal fishing, and other offenses as well as most wanted persons and other wanted persons.
The BPPO seized P172,746,248 worth of shabu from January 20, 2023 to March 6 this year.