10 MManila policemen sacked for illegal gambling

TEN police officers in Metro Manila, including three police chiefs, were relieved for their alleged involvement in illegal gambling.

Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief, said on Friday that seven of the 10 were unit commanders who were asked to step down over their alleged inaction on reports of illegal gambling in their areas of jurisdiction.

Relieved were Col. Bernard Yang, Pasay police chief; Col. Gerardo Umayao, Muntinlupa police chief and Caloocan Police Chief Noel Flores.

Sinas identified the relieved unit commanders as Police Maj. Fortunato Ecle, commander of the Quezon City Police District Station 7; Police Maj. Joebi Astucia of Caloocan Police Community Precinct ( PCP) 3; Police Maj. Merben Bryan Magada Lago of Caloocan PCP 5; Police Maj. Elmer Gutierrez of Muntinlupa PCP 3; Police Maj. Christopher Mercado of Muntinlupa PCP 2; Police Maj. Marvin Oloan of Pasay PCP 3; and Police Capt. Rommel Bulan of Pasay PCP 1.

The relief of the seven unit commanders was “in support” of Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Archie Gamboa’s “one strike policy,” Sinas told the reporters in a press briefing.

The NCRPO said during a big time operation of the Regional Special Operations Unit, video karera machines were seized in the areas under the jurisdiction of the unit commanders.

All relieved police officials were assigned to the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit of the NCRPO while awaiting results of the investigation.

Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac, PNP spokesman, said the actions taken by all police unit commanders against illegal gambling would weigh “heavily” in their evaluations.

Illegal gambling has been persistent in Central Luzon, Calabarzon ( Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) and the National Capital Region (Metro Manila), Banac had said.

Common were tupada (cockfighting) and video karera (horse racing), among others, Banac said.

Meanwhile, Sinas cleared Brig. Gen. Nolasco Bathan whose relief as director of the Southern Police District ( SPD) was because of his promotion as deputy regional director for operation of the NCRPO and not because of illegal gambling.

Bathan replaces Brig. Gen Albert Ignatius Ferro, who was appointed Central Visayas head of police.

Bathan was replaced by Police Col. Emmanuel Peralta as SPD director.

Based on NCRPO data from Oct. 12, 2019 to Jan. 19, 2020, a total of P1.5 million in gambling paraphernalia and cash were recovered.

At least 2,456 cases were also filed against the violators over the same period.