ANTI-JUETENG DRIVE AGGRESSIVE AS EVER
Philippine National Police officials today took strong exception to
allegations made by anti-jueteng crusaders of the involvement of local
police commanders in illegal gambling activities.
PNP Spokesman, Senior Superintendent Samuel D Pagdilao Jr. maintained that
anti-illegal gambling operations has been “as aggressive as ever and there
has been no let-up in police operations.”
“The allegations of Krusadang Bayan Laban sa Sugal is very unfortunate and
baseless. The PNP is an institution that enforces the law against all
forms of crime, illegal gambling included. And our records will bear this
historical fact of arrests after arrests made and cases after cases filed
in pursuance of this bounden duty,” Pagdilao said.
The PNP arrested 1,281 illegal gambling offenders in 794 operations
conducted nationwide during the first quarter alone of 2006. The arrests
resulted in the filing of 710 cases in court for violation of PD 1602 and
Republic Act 9287 which imposes stiffer penalties of up to ten years
imprisonment for collectors and up to 20 years for protectors or coddlers.
“This and the fact that almost 40 police commanders had been relieved from
post for failure to stop jueteng activities in their areas show the PNP’s
firm resolve in continuing the fight against an age-old enemy,” Pagdilao
stressed.
The PNP Spokesman said the One-Strike Policy remains in effect for field
commanders who will fall short of expectation in the anti-jueteng
campaign.
“The PNP has fought and still is fighting jueteng in a long-drawn and
protracted war. But we are not giving up nor getting frustrated. We do not
blame anybody or consider the existence of this evil due to the failure of
institutions whose duty is to strengthen the moral fiber of society so it
will not succumb to temptations,” he said.
Pagdilao said those espousing the advocacy against jueteng should not get
frustrated because they are not alone in this fight.
“We assure them that the PNP has been in the thick of the fight long
before their started crusade. With their help and with everyone’s
cooperation we will win this war,” Pagdilao said.
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