Anti-gambling campaign CamSur top cop, 5 town police chiefs lose posts

MANILA, Philippines - The provincial police director of Camarines Sur and his five police chiefs have been removed from their posts for their alleged failure to stop illegal gambling in the province.

The relief of Senior Superintendent Ramon Ranara, Camarines Sur police director, came from the Philippine National Police (PNP) national headquarters at Camp Crame and took effect on Monday.

An order from the Camarines Sur police given to Camp Crame reporters indicated though that it was Ranara who signed the relief orders for his five police chiefs.

The relieved police chiefs were Chief Inspector Alejandro Monge of Buhi town; Senior Inspector Rodolfo Oliver of Canaman town; Chief Inspector Venerando Ramirez of Pili town; Senior Inspector Joel Sabuco of Pasacao town; and Chief Inspector Noel Aquino of Sipocot town.

Earlier, PNP chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome had ordered an investigation into jueteng operations in Camarines Sur upon receiving reports on the resurgence of the illegal numbers game after the death of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo.

Superintendent Renato Bataller, spokesman of the Bicol regional police, said the order from Camp Crame on Ranara’s relief stated no reason.

But Bataller said Ranara could have been held responsible based on the doctrine of command responsibility.

Bataller said the six relieved police officials are currently in floating status pending investigation for the possible filing of administrative cases against them.

Last July, Robredo removed five police chiefs in Camarines Norte, Sorsogon and Pangasinan from their posts also for allegedly failing to stop jueteng operations in their respective jurisdictions.