Zero tolerance on illegal gambling, Leyte guv tells local chief execs

By Provincial Media Relations Center
September 21, 2011

TACLOBAN CITY  –  Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla advises local chief executives in the province to maintain “zero tolerance” on the presence of illegal gambling in their respective areas.

The governor, who spoke before local mayors during the League of Municipalities - Leyte Chapter’s meeting Tuesday, says there are reports reaching him that illegal numbers game still persists in some municipalities in the province.

“Let us not wait for the central office and other national agencies to come here and act on the matter. Better if we take actions ourselves here,” Gov. Petilla told the majority of the mayors who were in attendance during the meeting led by LMP-Leyte President Remedios Petilla, and LMP-Leyte Vice President Sandy Javier.

The governor said he is standing firm to halt all forms of illegal gambling in the province.

Gov. Petilla said that the police in the province, for its part, have been relentless in their operations based on constant reminders from higher ups to step up campaign against all forms of illegal gambling activities in their areas of jurisdiction.

The governor added that the PNP provincial director is also on stiff orders to strike hard at illegal gambling activities in all areas of the province and is ordered to strictly account and monitor the compliances of chiefs-of-police of municipalities regarding illegal gambling activities.

Newly-installed PNP Chief, Police Director General Nicanor Bartolome said he would continue his predecessor’s “one-strike policy” in connection with the illegal numbers racket.

Bartolome’s predecessor, Raul Bacalzo Jr., had declared a one-strike policy, which means that a police official would be immediately axed if found to be collaborating with the jueteng syndicate in his area. The one–strike policy against illegal gambling is not exclusive to the illegal numbers game “jueteng” but also applies to against all forms of illegal gambling.

PNP-8 Regional Director Police Chief Supt. Arnold Revilla, in an earlier report disclosed, that the campaign should be sustained and reminded all provincial directors and police chiefs of the PNP’s one strike policy” and the principle of “command responsibility” relative to the intensified campaign in stamping-out all forms of illegal gambling in their areas of responsibility.