5 police chiefs sacked over jueteng

MANILA, Philippines - Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo has ordered the relief of five police chiefs in Camarines Norte, Sorsogon and Pangasinan for failing to stop jueteng operations in their areas of jurisdiction.

Robredo identified the chiefs of police (COPs) as Senior Inspector Timothy Arciso Jr. of Sta. Elena, Camarines Norte; Superintendent Allan Ramos of Daet City; Senior Inspector Dominick Poblete of Mapandan, Pangasinan; and Chief Inspector Erwin Doma of Castilla town and Senior Inspector Joselito Gapan of Juban town, both in Sorsogon.

Senior Superintendent Frank Penaflor Jr., senior police assistant at the Department of the Interior and Local Government, recommended the relief of the police officials following raids conducted by agents of the DILG-Office of Internal Security (OIS) in their respective areas.

“We have given ample and stern warnings to all PNP provincial directors and chiefs of police in various provinces, towns and cities in the country that we would implement the one-strike policy on illegal gambling against them,” Robredo said.

“These five COPs apparently have been either remiss in their jobs or have defied our policy. The others who will defy that policy shall suffer the same fate. And we will not hesitate in ordering their relief,” he added.

Robredo said members of the DILG-OIS arrested 13 persons during a jueteng draw in Purok 14, Poblacion, Sta. Elena town on June 24.

On June 29, 16 persons were also nabbed while reportedly operating jueteng in Purok 4, Barangay Lag-on in Daet town.

Assorted gambling paraphernalia and bets amounting to more than P12,000 were seized in the raids.

DILG agents also arrested six gambling personnel, seized gambling paraphernalia and bets amounting to P7,544 during the raid in Mapandan, Pangasinan on July 9.

 DILG-OIS agents arrested 41 persons,  seized assorted jueteng paraphernalia and confiscated P23,280 bets during the raid in Sorsogon.

All the arrested suspects were charged with illegal gambling.