The Philippine National Police (PNP) denied yesterday that it is losing focus on the illegal numbers game because the entire police is focused on the war on drugs.
Senior Supt. Dionardo Carlos, PNP spokesman, said they have been aggressive to address jueteng and other forms of illegal gambling, especially since February this year when the aggressive campaign against illegal gambling campaign had resumed.
In fact, he said nearly 3,000 police operations were conducted against illegal gambling mostly in Metro Manila, other parts of Luzon and the Visayas.
“From February 3 up to the morning of April 9 this year, our data showed that there are a total of 6,531 people arrested in illegal gambling campaign,” said Carlos.
The same operations, he said, also resulted in the confiscation of some P2.9 million cash.
The PNP leadership has also intensified the campaign against its personnel involved in illegal gambling protection racket.
Recently, two police colonels and a police sergeant were sacked from their posts over allegations that they have been receiving protection money from gambling operators. (Aaron Recuenco)