6-MONTH TARGET SET TO END ILLEGAL GAMBLING
He assures that, unlike the war on drugs, this campaign will not be bloody
But unlike the PNP’s suspended war against illegal drugs, PNP Chief Ronald dela Rosa said the “all-out war” against illegal drugs will not be bloody.
Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa declared on Monday an all-outwar against illegal gambling and expressed confidence that this can be stopped in just six months.
“The Philippine National Police will continue to hit hard on all forms of illegal gambling activities in line with Executive Order (EO) No. 13 issued by President Rodrigo Duterte… By this pronouncement, the PNP is hereby declaring war against illegal gambling,” Dela Rosa said in a press conference.
But unlike the PNP’s suspended war against illegal drugs, dela Rosa said the war on illegal gambling will not be bloody.
“Hindi naman crazy ‘yung mga player ng gambling, unlike sa drugs na walang tamang pag-iisip kaya nagkakaroon ng patayan. Pumapatay nga sila kahit hindi sila nate-threaten ‘di ba. Itong mga illegal gambling pera-pera lang ito. Hindi ito kailangan magbuwis ng buhay,” he said. (Gamblers are not crazy, unlike those involved in illegal drugs who kill whenever they are threatened. In illegal gambling, there’s no need to kill.)
Dela Rosa said the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) will be the lead unit for the anti-illegal gambling operations.
“Based on our own experience, illegal gambling activities if left unchecked, breed corruption and may mutate into other forms of organized crime, including drug-trafficking, illegal vices, money-laundering and kidnapping,” he said.
Duterte signed EO 13 on February 2 to strengthen the fight against illegal gambling and clarify the jurisdiction and authority of concerned agencies in the regulation and licensing of gambling and online gaming facilities.
The directive orders the PNP, the National Bureau of Investigation, and other law enforcement agencies to coordinate with the Department of Justice, the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of Information and Communications Technology in the conduct of anti-illegal gambling operations.
It also directed law enforcers to coordinate with gambling regulatory authorities such as the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority and Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan in the conduct of investigations and operations in their areas of responsibility.
”This new mandate of the PNP comprise a wider range of anti-illegal gambling efforts to enforce Presidential Decree 1602, prescribing stiffer penalties on illegal gambling; and Republic Act 9287, the law increasing the penalties for illegal numbers games and amending certain provisions of Presidential Decree no. 1602,” Dela Rosa said.
Dela Rosa said the Director for Operations has already alerted all Police Regional Offices to conduct One-Time-Big-Time (OTBT) operations against illegal gambling in their respective areas and sustain the distinction as illegal gambling free region.