Querol rebuts allegations PRO-6 is sparing some gambling lords

ILOILO CITY, Philippines - Chief Supt. Cipriano Querol Jr., director of the Police Regional Office-6, has debunked reports of a local newspaper here accusing some policemen of being paid by some gambling lords to harass small-time jai-alai operators via raids and arrests.

"Contrary to the news report, I am positive that my men has been conducting a no let-up operations against all forms of illegal gambling, including jai-alai operations, without discrimination or consideration to any particular group," Querol said.

"There is no truth that 'Target Jai-Alai' and other illegal gambling outfits of a certain Mr. Yap have been spared from police operations. There's no basis also to the issue on protecting Mr. Yap …(allegations) that were only being recycled and have not been proven," said the top police official.

Querol said that, under his leadership, no police personnel shall be allowed or tolerated to protect any illegal gambling operation in Western Visayas.

The could only be a brainchild of other illegal gambling groups who wanted to malign the reputation of the police and also to discredit the organization of its capability to end jai-alai operations, which have been in existing in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City for a very long time.

Querol said he had been working to curb illegal gambling in Western Visayas, particularly in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental.

He reiterated his directive issued last April 27 setting the guidelines for the Negros Occidental Provincial Police and the Bacolod City Police offices to work jointly with LGUs, the media and the church to stop all illegal-gambling in these areas.

Police operations shall be aimed at arresting collectors, bettors and also financiers and protectors, Querol said adding that this were in line with the one-strike policy imposed on all police station heads by PNP Chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome against crimes, including illegal gambling.

Police records showed that Bacolod City topped the list on the number of illegal gambling cases filed in court with 125 out of 159 police operations/raids conducted from May-October this year. Negros Occidental followed with 58 out of 77 operations.

For the same period, there were already 501 persons arrested and a total of P136,751.50 in bet money confiscated. Of the 501 individuals arrested, 120 were collectors and bettors of "Target" and "Speed" Jai-Alai games.

The report showed the Regional Special Operations Groups (RSOG), BCPO and NOPPO have been doing well in their jobs on anti-illegal gambling operations.

Querol earlier formed two teams from RSOG to complement the lack of personnel of the NOPPO and BCPO to run after illegal gambling suspects.