Police officer arrested for gambling in casino

MANILA -- A police officer was arrested Tuesday evening while gambling in one of the casinos in Parañaque City, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Oscar Albayalde said Wednesday, April 4.

Albayalde identified the arrested police official as Superintendent Adrian Antonio, who was assigned at the Philippine National Police (PNP) directorate for operations at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame.

He said Antonio was arrested around 10:55 p.m. Tuesday, April 3, while playing baccarat at the City of Dreams in Parañaque City.

The arrest, he added, stemmed from a report from the casino management after Antonio presented his identification card showing he is a police officer following an altercation with a casino player whom he owes money from.

Albayalde said that based on initial information, the PNP has been monitoring Antonio’s casino habit for the past three months already.

Antonio was placed on a restrictive custody under the Southern Police District prior to the filing of administrative charges against him.

In January, PNP Chief Ronald dela Rosa inaugurated the unveiling of warning signs prohibiting government employees from entering casinos.

He said government employees are not allowed in casinos, where illegal transactions like laundering of money that came from illegal drugs happen.

“’Yung gambling associated with corruption kapag ang nagga-gamble ang government employee. Magkano lang ba sahod ng government employee then engage s’ya sa gambling sa casino, meaning he has to look for other sources and most likely ‘yung source na yan kung hindi manggagalig sa government fund or galing sa corruption,” Dela Rosa said.

Antonio was the second among the highest ranking policemen arrested over illegal activities.

The first was Superintendent Lito Cabamongan, former chief of the satellite office of the Crime Laboratory Service in Alabang who was arrested while having a pot session in Las Piñas City.