Manila Police District director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales has warned 11 police station commanders that they will be removed from their post if they violate his two-strike policy on illegal gambling.
Under Rosales’ directive, a station commander is considered a “failure” in eradicating illegal gambling if two successive arrests are made in his area of jurisdiction.
District Police Intelligence and Operations Unit (DPIOU) head Chief Inspector Audie Madrideo said since July 10, his unit has arrested and charged in court 76 persons for illegal gambling. Most of the arrests were made in Tondo, Sta. Ana and Sta. Cruz districts where illegal horserace bookie operations proliferate.
Madrideo warned Mayor’s Complaint and Action Team personnel against using the DPIOU office in their extortion activities. There are reports that some MCAT personnel introduce themselves as DPIOU operatives, arrest illegal gambling operators, then ask P10,000 for every personnel caught.
Madrideo clarified that MCAT is not allowed to make arrest. MCAT, headed by retired police colonel Franklin Cagutan and composed of civilians and retired police officers, was created by Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim only to receive and endorse complaints of the public to the concerned police agencies. A certain “Rey Baba,” a retired policeman, reportedly acts as the group’s collector, according to Madrideo.
Rosales told his officers to either “shape up or ship out,” as he reiterated his earlier warning that non-performing officials will be relieved in the coming top-to-bottom revamp of station commanders and chiefs of headquarter units. – Nestor Etolle