CCPO finds ways to dispose of gambling machines

Contractor to destroy devices without affecting environment

THE Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) has started adopting ways to properly dispose of the confiscated illegal gambling machines.

CCPO Director Joel Doria said that his office started turning over to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 the video karera machines and moli-moli devices.

The move came after an environmental group cautioned the police against smashing the confiscated machines, saying these contain large quantities of haz- ardous substances.

Doria said that the safe disposal of the machines is handled by a private contractor.

“P15 per kilo yun. Mabigat yun,” he told reporters yesterday.

Doria said that the CCPO will request the Police Regional Office 7 for a budget to pay for the disposal of the devices. They will also find other funds for such purpose.

After the police destroyed some 102 gambling machines with the use of hammers and axes last Sept. 19 at the CCPO grounds, the EcoWaste Coalition issued a press statement saying such action was unsafe.

Old analog television (TV) units that are often used in illegal gambling business contain huge amounts of hazardous substances, such as lead, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, copper and mercury, and flame retardant chemicals.

Cadmium, lead and mercury belong to “top 10 chemicals of major public health concern,” according to the World Health Organization.

“We understand that the confiscated TV sets are destroyed for good to prevent their reuse for illegal gambling activities, but this should not be in a manner that will scatter the lead and their other hazardous substances, which can endanger human health and the environment,” stated Thony Dizon, coordinator of the EcoWaste Coalition’s Project Protect.

The Quezon Citybased group, however, praised the police’s efforts against illegal gambling activities.