MANILA. Philippine National Police Chief General Benjamin Acorda Jr. (Photo from PNP)
In a statement, Acorda reminded his men that negligence or inaction against illegal gambling will result in swift consequences.
He said police commanders who will be found inefficient or wanting in their efforts to eradicate and stop illegal gambling in their respective areas of jurisdiction shall be relieved from their post and be charged administratively under the Doctrine of Command Responsibility.
He said the one strike policy is applicable to officials one month after their assumption to office.
“We will not tolerate the existence of illegal gambling activities that prey on the most vulnerable members of our society. Together with PCSO, we will deploy all necessary resources and implement stringent measures to put an end to this menace,” said Acorda.
“With this strong stance, the PNP aims to leave no room for leniency in eradicating the illegal gambling menace,” he added.
This came after Acorda inked an alliance to intensify the national campaign against all forms of illegal gambling activities across the country with the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
Recognizing the detrimental impact of these illegal activities that erode public morals, PCSO General Manager Mel Robles emphasized that illegal gambling operations significantly affect the revenue generated by the PCSO, as the majority of earnings end up lining the pockets of illegal gambling operators.
Robles urged the public to participate only in PCSO-sanctioned games such as Lotto and small-town lottery, noting they not only have a chance to win exciting prizes, but they can also actively contribute to the funding of the PCSO’s welfare programs.
Under the leadership of Acorda, the PNP is mobilizing its established Anti-Illegal Gambling Special Operations Task Groups across the country to intensify the implementation of the provisions outlined in “PNP Anti-Illegal Gambling Campaign Plan: Operation High Roller.”
Acorda said these specialized units will employ their expertise to gather intelligence, conduct thorough investigations, and execute strategic interventions, fortifying the nation’s fight against illegal gambling. (SunStar Philippines)