Dela Rosa admits PNP commanders not too keen on fighting illegal gambling

Police commanders are apparently not so happy, and are “sluggish” in implementing Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Ronald Dela Rosa’s order to finish off jueteng and other forms of illegal gambling operations in 15 days.

Dela Rosa, himself, made this disclosure after issuing the order in a command conference attended by regional commanders and other unit heads.

“I gave them 15 days to stop illegal gambling in their areas of responsibility, medyo matamlay sila (they seemed sluggish),” said Dela Rosa.

“But the order stays”, the Chief PNP maintained.

“I still told them that we have to do it, otherwise, I will start relieving my commanders after the deadline if they would not be able to stop illegal gambling,” Dela Rosa said.

The official said he then asked all the regional commanders and unit heads if they were up to the task.

“I asked them to raise their hands if they can do it, and everybody raised their hands. So that means, we can stop illegal gambling,” Dela Rosa said.

The biggest challenge, according to Dela Rosa, will be in Luzon where “jueteng” remains very popular despite the repeated crackdowns over the years.

He said that while there are other forms of illegal gambling in some major areas in the Visayas and Mindanao, the illegal gambling problems in Luzon remains the biggest problem.

“Some regions have different forms of illegal gambling, but there are plenty here in Luzon,” said Dela Rosa.

Based on an assessment, Central Luzon, Bicol Region, Metro Manila and CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) are the areas where jueteng thrives.

Some police commanders are raising concern over their capability to fight two equally serious social problems – illegal drugs and illegal gambling - at the same time, saying they were already too busy dealing with the former.