By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Police Regional Office-6 (PRO-6) director, Police Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan, recently ordered the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) to intensify anti-gambling operations. However, BCPO officer-in-charge, Police Colonel Henry Biñas, insisted all station commanders in the city were ordered to pursue illegal gamblers before the PRO-6 order was issued.
The city official said most arrests have been linked with card games and illegal cock fights.
The BCPO director also appealed for the public to cooperate in stamping out illegal gambling.
Last May, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) shut down five “Peryahan ng Bayan” branches last Sunday over allegations of illegal gambling.
According to Atty. Renoir Baldovino, who heads the NBI office in Bacolod City, search warrants were issued against branches in Murcia, EB Magalona, Hinigaran, Himamaylan City, and Victorias City; which resulted in the arrest of 36 collectors and staff.
However, Globaltech, operator of the gaming outfit in Negros Occidental, responded to the matter indicating plans to file charges against the NBI and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
According to Globaltech Vice President for legal affairs, Atty. Bernard Vitrolio, PCSO misrepresented the situation by issuing a certification affirming “Peryahan ng Bayan” operations as illegal but excluded a January 15 decision by the Court of Appeals that allowed for gaming to continue./DGB, WDJ