MISAMIS Oriental Governor Yevgeny Emano has formed a task force which he will head to go after illegal gambling in the province.
Emano, through an executive order, tapped officials from Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, Misamis Oriental Provincial Jail, Philippine National Police, and the Philippine Army as part of the task force.
"Gamay lang atong task force kay kung daghan kamot agian basin mo-leak ang information. Ako mismo ang mangulo sa task force," Emano said.
Emano wants all intelligence information about elected and government officials and employees including law enforcers' involvement in illegal gambling operations be immediately reported to him.
"Kay kung sa ako ra, sigurado ko nga dili gayud mo-leak and pag mo-leak man gani ako ray mabasol," Emano added.
Meanwhile, Emano linked a town mayor whom he declined to name to illegal gambling and said the mayor is financing the illegal "swertres" game in the whole town.
Emano said the mayor is included in the initial list of illegal gambling protectors and financiers.
The task force is already validating information regarding the said town official.
"Isa pa ang nasa lista subo mi nga mitumaw iyang ngalan nga maoy ga-finance sa pagpadula sa illegal swertres sa tibuok munisipyo," Emano said.
"Wala koy plano nga nganlan siya, hulatan na lang nato nga madakpan siya sa kapolisan, (I have no plan to name him, we'll just wait until he gets arrested)" Emano added.
The governor expects more prominent personalities will be included once the list from the group of legal lotto agents comes out.
"Duna na koy initial nga mga pangalan pero dili sa nato ibutyag. Once naay information about sa illegal operation ug atong ma-confirm ato dayong padasmagan sa task force," Emano said.
The Misamis Oriental-Cagayan de Oro City Legal Lotto Association, Inc. (Moclai) said they will validate the names of illegal gambling personalities by October 13 to 14.
Moclai president Astrid Bana said after the 14th, the list will be forwarded to the local Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and eventually to the task force who will act on the list.
Emano emphasized that the task force will also monitor other forms of illegal gambling.
"If naay lain maabtan ang task force walay palabyon kini nga task force pero atong focus is illegal swertres nga maoy nakapakunhod sa kinitaan sa legal lotto operation," Emano said.
The governor said he is hopeful the campaign against illegal gambling will be relentless. However, he said he does not agree with the proposal to lower the legal lotto bet to P1.
"Dili pud ko uyon anang ubsan ang legal lotto bet ngadto sa P1 para maka-compete sa illegal kay murag gidaginot na sab nato ang piso sa tawo ana," Emano said.
"I think kung naa ta masampolan although dili ta kasiguro mawala tanan diretso pero mokunhod gyud ilabi na kung mga dagkong dunay katungdanan sa katilingban ang masikop," Emano added.
