AUTHORITIES have arrested ranking police official who was caught Tuesday night playing inside a casino in Paranaque City.
Metro Manila police director Oscar Albayalde identified the police officer as Supt. Adrian Antonio, 35, assigned at the Philippine National Police general headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
Antonio was arrested for violating Article 231 (Disobedience) of the Revised Penal Code, Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees and Presidential Memorandum Circular 06-2016 which prohibit all government officials and employees, including policemen from entering and playing casinos.
Albayalde said elements of the Paranaque City Police Station nabbed Antonio around 10:55 pm Tuesday at Pit 16 of the gaming area of City of Dreams Resort and Casino.
“The apprehended person was monitored though CCTV inside the Pit Arena of the said establishment and caught in the act of playing baccarat. Subject had also an altercation with another player in the said Casino that revealed his true identity,” a report from the Southern Police District stated.
The government authorized the PNP to arrest any government employee and police personnel caught gambling inside casinos nationwide.
Before the policy was implemented, local government officials who were caught playing in casinos were simply asked to leave the gambling establishments.
Records from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. showed that in recent months, at least 20 local officials, mostly from the province, were caught playing in casinos.
PNP chief Ronald Dela Rosa recently warned policemen spotted inside gambling areas would be dismissed from the service.
He added those caught in casinos would also be charged criminally and administratively.
Three months ago, a police woman from Cebu City and a municipal councilor from Cordova town, Cebu, were also caught gambling in casinos.
Police Officer 2 Cyrelle Marie Bayate, 30, assigned at Police Station 1 on Sikatuna Street, Barangay Pari-an, Cebu City, was caught playing inside a hotel casino in Cebu City while Cordova Municipal Councilor Lemuel Pogoy was caught playing slot machine in a hotel casino in Lapu-Lapu City.