THE top official of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) said the city’s police force will be taking up the challenge presented by the City Council to eliminate illegal gambling in the city in two months.
Senior Superintendent Ronnie Francis Cariaga, in the Council’s hot seat on Monday, was chastised by councilors for the police’s mediocre performance in the fight against illegal gambling.
Cariaga vowed to solve the problem in his time as city police chief saying he will resign should he fail to address the prevalence of illegal gambling in 2 months.
This challenge came after a group of lotto operators in the city said that about 20 outlets have been forced to close down following major losses due to unfair competition from illegal lotto outlets.
Astrid Bana, president of Misamis Oriental-Cagayan de Oro Lotto Agents Association, tagged the game "swertres"|for their losses.
"This association was made because of this problem. Not only are our businesses at stake, but also our security. We intend to bring this issue to the national government but we also agreed to bring it here before the City Council for immediate actions," Bana said.
Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO)-Misamis Oriental branch manager Divina Salvacion said the illegal gambling problem is not new, but pointed out the need to solve it saying it affects the delivery of services to the people.
Salvacion said that since she assumed office last August 2, sales have plunged by 40 to 50 percent.
Salvacion added that sales of the sweepstakes office used to reach P80 million per month but now barely reaches P40 million a month.
"With that decrease in sales, that means decreased services too," Salvacion said.
Cariaga, however, emphasized that just like the war against drugs, the barangay's participation is crucial.
"It's hard to focus on one thing without compromising another, so we need to strategize, which is what we are doing now," Cariaga said.
Cariaga said he will begin looking by looking at reports alleging the involvement of police officials in illegal gambling as protectors.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa had said last month that he will go after illegal gambling after the present war on drugs is "won" six months into his term as chief of the PNP.
Dela Rosa had also warned policemen against taking bribes from illegal gambling, citing the close connection of illegal gambling to the illegal drug trade.
