■ COPS GIVEN 15 DAYS TO STOP ILLEGAL GAMBLING

Regional PNP officials who could not put an end to illegal gambling after 15 days will be relieved of their posts, Gen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said. His statement came after the pronouncement of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Authority General Manager Alexander Balutan that he was disappointed by the PNP’s failure to stop illegal gambling operations in the country.

Philippine National Police ( PNP) chief Ronald dela Rosa gave regional police directors 15 days to stamp out illegal gambling operations in their areas of jurisdiction.

Regional PNP officials who could not put an end to illegal gambling after 15 days will be relieved of their posts, Dela Rosa said.

The regional officials are also expected to kick out subordinates who fail to do their share in the government’s campaign against illegal drugs, the police chief added.

Dela Rosa also made an appeal to the legitimate small-town-lottery (STL) operators.

“I’m appealing to legal STL operators na magpakatotoo tayo. Kapag may nahuli kami na bookies at sasaluhin n’yo e me problema tayo (If we arrest bookies and you help them, then we have a problem),” he said.

“You are making us a whipping boy. Ngayon we will be all out, huwag ‘ yung pula, puti kayo. Very sad na kami ang sinisisi pero ang nagbu-bookies sila din. Ayoko na ang PNP ang binubuntunan ng sisi (I’m very sad that the police is being blamed. I don’t want people to blame the police),” he added.

Dela Rosa made the statement following the pronouncement of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Authority general manager Alexander Balutan that he was disappointed by the PNP’s failure to stop illegal gambling operations in the country.

As of July 20, the PNP has conducted 5,374 operations which resulted in the arrest of 12,654 persons and the confiscation of over P5 million worth of items used in illegal gambling operations.

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