ILOILO CITY – The Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 arrested a total of 2,591 illegal gamblers in Western Visayas in the first half of this year.

Police Brig. Gen. Sidney Villaflor, PRO-6 acting director, said they were arrested by various police units in 814 anti-gambling operations from Jan. 1 to June 25 in line with the directive of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. to beef up the anti-gambling campaign.

Villaflor said the 2,591 arrested in the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental as well as the highly urbanized cities of Iloilo and Bacolod are among the more than 41,000 people apprehended nationwide in almost six months.

Police Major Grace Borio, PRO-6 spokesperson, said almost P600,000 in bet money was seized from these illegal gamblers.

Meanwhile, Villaflor reiterated the one-strike policy against police chiefs in the crackdown on illegal gambling in their areas of assignment. He warned they will be removed from their posts immediately if they fail.

Villaflor lauded residents for providing valuable information to police on illegal gambling activities.

“Coupled with our intel-driven operations, PRO-6 will surely have positive results in our campaign against illegal gambling,” added Villaflor.