Monday, February 26, 2007

In the midst of bustling political developments, Police Regional Office
(PRO) 6 regional director Chief Supt. Wilfredo Dulay Sr. has launched a task
force that would undertake a more aggressive campaign against the illegal
numbers game "jueteng" and other forms of illegal gambling in Western
Visayas. The Anti-Illegal Gambling Special Operation Task Force (AIGSOTF)
will be headed by Dulay himself. The Task Force will have as operating arms
personnel from the Regional Intelligence Division and personnel from the 6th
Regional Mobile Group. Similar task forces will also be created down the
city and provincial levels all over the region. As provided in its
Implementation Plan, the AIGSOTF shall conduct general law enforcement
operations against illegal numbers game called "jueteng" and other forms of
illegal gambling in coordination with the local government units (LGUs). The
Task Force shall also collect, process and analyze information on illegal
gambling activities and submit monthly reports to the Chief, PNP; conduct
intelligence operations through the utilization of informants and other
resources; conduct counter-intelligence to identify PNP personnel and other
government officials/employees involved in illegal gambling activities and
initiate the filing of charges for the same; and, to preserve all seized and
confiscated illegal gambling paraphernalia for presentation as evidence in
court. To note, PRO 6 records show that 85 persons were arrested for
violation of Presidential Decree 1602 prescribing stiffer penalties on
illegal gambling as amended by RA 9287 in its 37 anti-illegal gambling
operations since last month. Record shows that arrested persons were
involved in Cara y Cruz, Daily Double, Tong-its, First or Last Two and
Small Town Lottery (STL). STL though legalized in Iloilo City is prohibited
in the province and other parts of the region. Negros Police Provincial
Office topped with 40 arrested persons in its 12 anti-gambling operations.
It is followed by Bacolod City Police Office with 20 arrested persons,
Iloilo Police Provincial Office with 12 arrested persons. The Guimaras
Police Provincial Office arrested 4 persons, Iloilo City Police Office and
Aklan and Antique Police Provincial Offices arrested 2 persons each; and the
Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit 6 arrested 3 persons. Meanwhile,
Senior Supt. Wesley Barayuga, chief of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO),
denied reports that there is a resurgence of illegal numbers game in the
city.