Cagayan de oro city—Northern Mindanao Police Regional Director Chief Supt. Noel Constantino issued an order Saturday directing all police unit commanders to crack down on all forms of illegal gambling across the region.
“PNP Chief PDGen Ronald dela Rosa has already made several public pronouncements that the PNP will wage war next against illegal gambling after the war on illegal drugs. Thus, we will not wait for the directive from National Headquarters which is already forthcoming but we will start now and gradually with increasing intensity launch our all-out campaign against illegal gambling in Northern Mindanao,” Constantino said.
An oversight committee will monitor the compliance of all major unit commanders, Chiefs of Police and Station Commanders to this directive.
“Those who will not take action will be administratively relieved, replaced and subjected to investigation,” Constantino added.
The order also directed local police units to notify their respective local government executives about the directive and launch an information campaign to discourage the general public from supporting illegal gambling in their areas.
PRO10 spokesperson PSupt Surki Sereñas said that with the campaign against illegal drugs still ongoing, “a portion of the police force will be dedicated to this purpose while other personnel still sustaining the campaign against illegal drugs dubbed as Project Double Barrel.”
“This crackdown is also undertaken in the light of reports that in some areas, there are drug lords who are also financiers of illegal gambling operations. The crackdown on illegal gambling operations will also deprive the drug lords the money they derive from illegal gambling,” PCSupt Constantino added.
“We will enforce the law without fear or favor and will hold our ground and will not allow ourselves to be pressured by any person or entity. We both have the will and the skill to succeed in this campaign,” Constantino said, after pointing out that PRO10 has made significant headway in the war against illegal drugs in Northern Mindanao.