The Philippine National Police (PNP) arrested about 41,000 individuals in 50,000 police operations targeting illegal gambling in the first half of the year. 'May mga nahuli pagdating sa actual (operations) pero gaya nang nasabi ko, when it comes to actual, lalo yung mga pure na online, mahirap pagkonektahin kasi hinahanap ng korte yung bet. Yun ang problema natin kung minsan. Those are the hindrances na na-encounter ng kapulisan pagdating sa actual (Some were apprehended during the actual operations but, as I said, when it comes to actual, especially online [gambling], it is difficult to connect them because the court is looking for the bet. That is our problem sometimes. Those are the hindrances that the police encounter when it comes to the actual operations),' PNP chief, Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr., said in a radio interview Tuesday. Acorda said they also continue to work with various government agencies, especially those whose mandate is concerned with information and communications technology, in running after e-sabong (online cockfighting) operators. 'With regards to e-sabong, yung online we have constant monitoring. Ang ating ACG (Anti-Cybercrime Group) ay tuloy tuloy yung kanilang cyber patrolling and also may mga tumutulong din and in coordination with NTC (National Telecommunications Commission), yung mga ibang website ay pinapa-take down natin and so far, we are encountering some in enforcement kasi may mga problema sa batas natin, like yung mga lack of betting kung manghuli tayo, walang nangyari but the betting is done online so pagkonektahin pagdating sa korte. Those are the difficulties and we are trying our best to take down in coordination with other agencies para ma-address ito (With regards to e-sabong, we have constant online monitoring. According to our ACG, their cyber patrolling is continuous. We also get some help from other agencies and in coordination with the NTC, we are able to take down other websites. However, we encounter some problems in enforcement. For instance, our laws do not mention anything about online betting. Even if we conduct operations, the betting is done online so we do not have anything to present before the courts. But we are trying our best to take down these websites in coordination with other agencies, so we could address this problem),' he said. Acorda has ordered an "intensified crackdown" against illegal gambling, backed by the one-strike and no-take policy. Police, regional, provincial, and district directors; chiefs of police stations and community precinct commanders; and other leaders of units who will be found inefficient or wanting in their efforts to eradicate and stop illegal gambling in their respective areas of jurisdiction shall be relieved of their post. They will also be charged administratively under the doctrine of command responsibility. Acorda's latest directive came after the PNP and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) forged an alliance to intensify the national campaign against all forms of illegal gambling. The specialized units will employ their expertise in gathering intelligence, conducting thorough investigations, and executing strategic interventions, fortifying the nation's fight against illegal gambling. "We will not tolerate the existence of illegal gambling activities that prey on the most vulnerable members of our society. Together with PCSO, we will deploy all necessary resources and implement stringent measures to put an end to this menace,' Acorda said in a previous statement.
Source: Philippines News Agency