The edict being given to police chiefs in Cebu, Philippines was short, clear, and pretty simple: show results on the crackdown on illegal gambling or else.
According to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Senior Supt. Patrocinio Comendador – wow, that name’s a mouthful – issued directives to police chiefs from Cebu’s 24 police stations to report what they’ve done to stamp out illegal gambling in the province. It’ not just that the 24 police stations are being required to make reports, it’s that they’re being ordered to do it on a weekly basis. And more importantly, failure to file these weekly accomplishment status reports will be met with serious consequences.
Someone’s definitely putting his foot down.
It certainly looks like Cebu is taking a pro-active approach in cracking down on illegal gambling in one of the Philippines’ most populated cities.
We’ll be going after these illegal gambling (activities) regardless of who gets hurt, big or small. We want to be serious in our drive against illegal gambling,” said Comendador, as quoted by the Inquirer.
Earlier this month, the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) presented six persons in the latest in a serious of arrests on individuals characterized by Comendador as suspected ushers and coordinators that have been engaging in illegal gambling. More than just the six, the CPPO has taken 46 people in custody from October 7 to 16 while also confiscating a slew of paraphernalia those people were using in their operations, including 73 tally sheets, 14 stubs, 2 video cameras, five bikes, and cash in the amount of Php5,014.
The police chief also made it clear that while the head of the snake – the financiers of these illegal gambling rings – are an eventual target, the police department will be focusing on the coordinators first, while also adding his belief that anti-gambling laws in the city, and the country for that matter, need to be strengthened to give the police clearer objectives to successfully upend any and all that are practicing illegal gambling.
Sounds like a man on a mission.
