Ebreo: Those spreading rumors are also involved with illegal drugs

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) director, Police Senior Superintendent Francisco Ebreo, recently denied allegations on social media claiming he and several other high-ranking police officers were receiving bribes, in the amount of P20,000 a month, from operators of illegal gambling, namely jai-alai.

According to Ebreo, law enforcement has been working “non-stop” in eliminating all illegal gambling in the city, pointing out a total 66 individuals have been arrested for engaging in illegal gambling since last November.

Ebreo added, eight were involved in jai-alai.

The BCPO chief noted, those circulating the rumors online are also involved with illegal drugs.

He indicated his skepticism of the claims, pointing out Police Superintendents Nasruddin Tayuan and Ritchie Yatar were both accused of receiving bribes from both illegal gambling operators and pirated DVD vendors. Ebreo characterized the pair as two of his best officers, who have been “actively involved in seeking and eliminating all illegal activities in Bacolod City.”

Ebreo said those making the claims would like to see the two removed from their posts as Tayuan leads the BCPO Intelligence Group and Yatar heads the BCPO Mobile Group.

Towards the end of last month, BCPO reported a 57 percent increase in police-initiated operations between January 1 to 22, as compared to the same period last year.

In a statement released by the agency, records indicate operations were conducted against illegal drugs and illegal gambling./DGB, WDJ