By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) director, Police Senior Superintendent Francisco Ebreo, defended the city’s police force yesterday, after they were criticized for not closing down the ‘Peryahan ng Bayan’ establishment at Burgos-Lacson Streets, which was allegedly engaging in an illegal numbers game.

During a press conference yesterday, Ebreo said the entities allowed to close down the establishment are the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR); the court sheriff; and, in this particular case, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), which regulates small town lotteries.

Ebreo also said the presence of Police Station 4 (PS4) officers, who backed representatives from PCSO, ensured the closure order was served peacefully.

He added, when tensions rose after the PCSO threatened to lock down the establishment with its seven employees inside, PS4 personnel tried to appease both sides, pointing out, PCSO officials would violate the employees’ human rights if they went through with their warnings.

Last Monday, PCSO-Manila Central Office Representative Manuel Fraginal, Sr., served a closure order against the ‘Peryahan ng Bayan,’ as they were found in violation of RA 9287, which applies increased penalties for illegal numbers games, and Executive Order No. 13, signed by President Rodrigo Duterte, which intensifies the fight against illegal gambling.

After employees exited, the PCSO representative padlocked the establishment and installed a tarpaulin indicating the establishment’s violation./DGB, WDJ