Over illegal gambling in Duljo: Mambaling police chief face relief

CEBU, Philippines - A police station chief and four members of the miscellaneous team will be relieved from their posts following the confiscation of 37 illegal gambling machines during the operation of the Regional Special Operation Group (RSOG)-7 last Friday in Barangay Duljo-Fatima, Cebu City.

Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 director Marcelo Garbo has verbally ordered the relief of Chief Insp. Sarah Jane Recla, Mambaling police station chief, for her failure to intensify anti-illegal gambling operations in her area.

The members of the miscellaneous team who are also relieved from their posts are PO2 Julius Tadeo, PO1 Glenn Besande, PO1 Bryle Villaban, and PO1 Jonathan Tilos.

“I have given instruction for the relief after a validation was conducted by our intel people in Barangay Duljo-Fatima,” Garbo said in an interview.

However, no date has been given yet regarding the effectivity of the relief. The relieved policemen will be assigned to the City Public Safety Company of the Cebu City Police Office.

Members of the RSOG-7 led by Insp. Romeo Sentinta, Jr. conducted an anti-illegal gambling operation in the said barangay to verify information regarding the allegedly rampant illegal gambling in the area which turned out to be positive.

Operatives seized 11 Video Karera machines and 26 Moli-Moli machines while bettors and caretakers scampered in different directions and eluded arrest.

Garbo added that aside from illegal gambling, illegal drugs are also rampant in the said barangay.

Recla told The FREEMAN that Garbo serves as their father and she can’t do anything whatever his decision may be.

“Si RD (regional director) amahan na siya sa tibuok region kung unsa iyang decision no comment lang ko kay apil mana sa panerbisyo ang ma-relieve, (RD is the father of the region. Whatever decision he makes, I would rather not comment because being relieved is part of the service), Recla said in a phone interview.

Meanwhile, Garbo could not impose sanctions on PO2 Bernie Lao, son of Ernesto Villamor Lao, of Barangay Mambaling. Ernesto was arrested for illegal gambling Friday evening.

Confiscated from Ernesto were illegal gambling or “jai-alai” paraphernalia and P240 cash.

Garbo said even if Ernesto was arrested, it does not follow that Bernie, who is assigned at the Argao Police Station, is also into the said illegal activity.

Ernesto admitted that Bernie reprimanded him to stop the illegal activity, which he ignored.—/MIT (FREEMAN)