Brgy workers seize gambling machines owned by “cop”; village chief denies info

CEBU, Philippines - Mabolo barangay officials raided two areas in their barangay for illegal gambling without cooperating with the police following reports that the gambling machines they have confiscated were allegedly owned by a policeman.

Barangay captain Reynaldo Ompoc said they no longer coordinated with the police as they wanted to immediately respond to the complaints and that it is not right to delay the operation just because of the non-availability of policemen.

“Malangay ra mi kung makig-coordinate pa mi sa kapulisan kay maghuwat pa kung aduna ba’y pulis, maong kami na lang diretso ni-raid,” said Ompoc in a phone interview.

The operation resulted to the confiscation of five video karera machines.

Ompoc, however, denied that the machines seized were owned by a policeman.

“Storya-storya ra ‘na nga pulis ang tag-iya and in fact, wala sab mi kaila kinsa’y tag-iya sa machines, ang amoa lang mahunong na ug mabuak (video karera machines)” said Ompoc, adding that the machines were already destroyed.

Ompoc said they have been conducting raids in their barangay against illegal activities like the illegal operation of gambling machines without the assistance of the police.

Last week, the barangay seized two video karera machines and three more last Wednesday.

Senior Inspector Hartzel Billedo, chief of Mabolo Police Station, said they were surprised of the anti-gambling operation conducted by the barangay officials as they were not informed.

As to the allegation that a police officer owns the confiscated video karera machines, Billedo said they are coordinating with their intelligence unit to validate such information.

“We are not tolerating such acts here in our station. In fact, we are always reminding our officers not be involved in any illegal activities,” Billedo said.

Billedo assured the residents in Mabolo that they will monitor the actions of their men and if any of them is found to be involved in any illegal activities, they will be given criminal or administrative sanctions. — Samuelle Joyrin C. Caing and Patrice Rebuta, USJ-R MassComm Interns/NSA (FREEMAN)