Paz to workers, execs: Enter casino at your own risk
Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza yesterday warned City Hall employees and officials against going inside casino and other gambling areas, saying they will run the risk of getting slapped with administrative charges.
“Actually, long before na kana siya nga balaod. Ang mga government employees in general, tanan gyud, are prohibited from going to gambling or casino. Ginadili gyud na,” she said.
Her warning came days after Cordova councilor Lemuel Pogoy was arrested by the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office City Intelligence Branch (LCPO-CIB) last week for allegedly playing the slot machine inside a casino in the city.
Even though the law banning government workers and officials is already in effect, Radaza said she wanted to remind government workers in her city not to break the law.
She was, however, quick to say that she has not so far heard of any reports about city officials being hooked on illegal gambling.
“Frankly speaking, wala gyud kaayo ta mag-monitor for the reason wala man kaayo koy nadunggan nga storya nga they’re going to the casino,” she said.
Radaza said city police are constantly monitoring after President Rodrigo Duterte announced the strict implementation of the ban and gave instructions to PNP DirectorGeneral Ronald Dela Rosa to intensify the anti-gambling campaign.
Under the Presidential Decree 1067-B and 1869, which created the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, government officials, members of the uniformed services, students and minors are prohibited from playing in casinos.
Chief Inspector Mark Gifter Sucalit, LCPO-CIB chief, said they are enforcing continuous monitoring in the city, emphasizing that in carrying out the arrest of Pogoy, they were merely doing their job as law enforcers.
Pogoy was eventually released upon the decision of the prosecutor.
“What we did was just to implement an order from our headquarters to effect an arrest on all government officials. Nagkataon lang nga yun ang merit sa resolution sa prosecutor,” Sucalit said.
Pogoy’s arrest was a result of a joint operation of Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG) under the Regional Intelligence Division (RID) of the Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 and LCPO-CIB.
“We are really serious in implementing the rule of law on the prohibition on government officials sa pag-adto sa casino. So bisag kinsa, ato na i-effect siya,” Sucalit said.
Cordova Mayor Mary Therese Sitoy-Cho earlier said that Pogoy, who happens to be a family relative, may face administrative complaint, adding she will discuss the matter with the town’s interior and local government office.