DUMAGUETE CITY - Philippine National Police (PNP) Regional Director for Central Visayas, Chief Supt. Marcelo Garbo, Jr., has sternly issued a warning that he will relieve 50 percent of the police chiefs in Negros Oriental if they fail to solve the rampant illegal gambling operations in the province.

The province of Negros Oriental is among the provinces in Central Visayas with rampant operations of the illegal numbers game locally known as “swertres”. Chief Supt. Garbo said the blatant operations of illegal gambling in Negros Oriental are an insult to the PNP.

He said there is no deadline for the warning but he wanted to see results not on the number of operations conducted but with the elimination of illegal gambling in cities and municipalities of Negros Oriental. He added illegal gambling has destroyed the image of the PNP.

Garbo admitted that they have received information on personalities and some government officials as alleged financiers of the illegal gambling operations in Negros Oriental.

PNP provincial director Sr. Supt. Edward Carranza clarified that at least six cities and two municipalities are now on close watch because of the rampant illegal gambling operations, particularly on “swertres”.

These include Bayawan City, Dumaguete City, Tanjay City, Bais City, Guihulngan City and Canlaon City, and the municipalities of Manjuyod and Sta. Catalina.

Supt. Carranza said he will make his verdict after one or two weeks after review of the performance of the police chiefs in these areas.

The PNP provincial director said he will resign if he fails to solve the problem on illegal gambling in Negros Oriental.

The Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office (NOPPO) is planning to hold an indignation rally with members of the academe, church, local government units, civil society and the media calling on the community to support the campaign of the PNP against illegal gambling.

Supt. Carranza said the PNP can never accomplish the aim to solve illegal gambling without the support of the community and the local governments.* PNA