ANTI-ILLEGAL GAMBLING OPS. Brig. Gen. Matthew Baccay, regional director of the Police Regional Office-Central Luzon (PRO-3), on Thursday (May 19, 2022) orders station commanders in the region to intensify operations against illegal gambling. A total of 3,878 individuals in the region have been arrested for illegal gambling since Jan. 1, 2022. (Photo courtesy of PRO-3)
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – At least 3,878 individuals have been arrested since the Police Regional Office–Central Luzon (PRO-3) intensified its operations against illegal gambling in the region at the start of this year.
Brig. Gen. Matthew Baccay, PRO-3 regional director, said on Thursday of the 886 anti-illegal gambling operations from January 1 to date, some PHP1.35 million cash bets were confiscated.
"Gambling addiction like illegal drugs robs the rationality of a person both young and old as it affects both his potential and productivity. It causes a threat to the community when an individual is forced to do something to sustain his/her gambling addiction," he said in a statement.
He directed all station commanders in the region to continuously take action against illegal gambling operations.
Along with the anti-illegal gambling operations, he reminded PRO-3 police officers that the one-strike policy is still in effect.
Station commanders who ignore and fail to act on the illegal gambling operations in their areas will be relieved from their posts immediately.
Baccay warned police personnel that those found involved in any illegal gambling activities will be meted with appropriate administrative and criminal charges. (PNA)
