Councilor, cop fall

A councilor of Cordova town and a police officer are in hot water for allegedly gambling in separate casinos last Thursday night.

Authorities arrested Councilor Lemuel Pogoy at a hotel in Lapu-Lapu City while PO2 Cyrelle Marie Bayate was arrested at a casino in Cebu City.

The two for violating Presidential Decree 1869, which prohibits government officials, members of the uniformed services, students, and minors from playing in casinos.

Memorandum Circular no 6 signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea in 2016, reiterates the Presidential Decree.

Pogoy and Bayate were arrested while allegedly playing at a slot machine. Bayate was in civilian clothes when arrested.

Police Chief Insp. Mark Gifter Sucalit, chief of the intelligence branch of the Lapu-Lapu City Police, said they did not have prior knowledge of Pogoy's activities until the night they arrested the councilor.

“We have not received any. Na-timingan lang gyud si honorable Pogoy and upon sa information nga gihatag sa informant nga atong gi-validate,” Sucalit said.

“Atong gipakatap ang atong mga operatiba and ang atong mga informants. We utilized our informants in the area and, at the same time, we validated also the information. We caught him (Pogoy) in the act of playing the slot machine,” he added.

In Cebu City, it was a team from the City Intelligence Branch (CIB) of the Cebu City Police that arrested Bayate.

The team also confiscated a .38 caliber revolver, a motorcycle,

and passbook from the policewoman.

“We were able to identify and arrest our own personnel, regardless if member siya ng Philippine National Police. We will strictly implement the directives,” said Chief Insp. Christopher Navida, chief of CIB.

In an interview with reporters, Pogoy denied the allegations and said he went to the hotel only to visit someone there.

Bayate, meanwhile, refused to comment but her superior at the Parian Police Station, Senior Insp. Narrolf Tan, said her arrest shocked him.

“She is one of my staff… na-shock ta kay tawo man gud nato… continuous atong pag-remind to stay away from illegal activities pero, yun nga, gi-defy atong guidance,” Tan said.

He disclosed that he received reports of instances when Bayate

KRISTINE JOYCE W. CAMPAÑA Different sizes of the Sto. Niño are on display at the Ayala Center Cebu. The exhibit is part of the activities lined up during the Fiesta Señor, which culminated yesterday with the change of garbs, popularly known as “Hubo.”