Sun.Star Cebu

Police, government execs banned from casinos

- JOHANNA O. BAJENTING / Reporter @JOBajentin­g

The National Police Commission (Napolcom) 7 will ensure that appropriat­e actions will be taken on the policewoma­n who was caught allegedly gambling inside a casino in Cebu City.

Atty. Risty Sibay, Napolcom 7 spokespers­on, told SunStar Cebu they are monitoring the case of PO2 Cyrelle Bayate. Bayate and Cordova Municipal Councilor Lemuel Pogoy were separately caught gambling in casinos earlier this week.

“We have standing policies on this matter but there are those who ignore it. We remind police officers that these need to be followed down to the lowest units,” Sibay said.

Police Chief Ronald Dela Rosa on Wednesday declared that police, soldiers and government officials are barred from gambling in casinos.

Presidenti­al Decrees 1067-B and 1869, which create the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), forbids government officials, members of uniformed services, students and minors from gambling in casinos.

Memorandum Circular 6, signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea in 2016, restated the ban.

“We will see to it that appropriat­e disciplina­ry actions are taken against those violators,” Sibay said.

Chief Insp. Narolf Tan, Parian police chief, convened his police officers and warned them of the consequenc­es of gambling in casinos.

“I reminded them that we are here to do our duties properly, especially now that we are being backed by the government like the salary hike,” Tan said.

He said that after he assumed as Parian police chief, he received informatio­n that he should keep a close eye on Bayate.

“She is now relieved from her post and because she has a criminal case, she would possibly be placed under the holding unit of the regional headquarte­rs,” Tan said.

 ?? SUNSTAR FOTO / ALEX BADAYOS ?? PO2 CYRELLE BAYATE (right), who is assigned at the Parian Police Station, and Cordova Municipal Councilor Lemuel Pogoy may have been the first to fall after Camp Crame declared casinos off-limits to all police operatives and government officials.
SUNSTAR FOTO / ALEX BADAYOS PO2 CYRELLE BAYATE (right), who is assigned at the Parian Police Station, and Cordova Municipal Councilor Lemuel Pogoy may have been the first to fall after Camp Crame declared casinos off-limits to all police operatives and government officials.

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