By JEN BAYLON

The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) apprehended 134 individuals for illegal gambling from May 1 to 15, the highest in Western Visayas.

The Police Regional Office in Western Visayas (PRO-6) conducted 95 anti-illegal gambling operations across the region during the period, which resulted in 261 arrests and the confiscation of P95,414.50 in bet money.

NOCPPO is followed by the Bacolod City Police Office with 35 individuals arrested, the Antique Police Provincial Office with 27, the Iloilo Police Provincial Office with 20, the Capiz Police Provincial Office with 18, the Iloilo City Police Office with 17, and the Aklan Police Provincial Office with 10.

Meanwhile, PRO-6 director Brigadier General Jack Wanky lauded the provincial and city police offices in the region for their impressive accomplishments.

“Keep up the good work. Motivate our personnel to always work harder against illegal gambling and other illegal activities,” Wanky said.

He also urged all police commanders to intensify their enforcement campaigns by enforcing the “one strike and no-take policy.”

“Those who operate illegally should be continually subject to law enforcement operations,” he said.

Earlier, 18 “bookies” collectors in Negros Occidental were facing illegal gambling charges following their arrests during police operations in the past months.

The collectors were arrested in separate anti-illegal gambling operations in the cities of Escalante, Bago, La Carlota, Sipalay, and Victorias, as well as the municipalities of Candoni, San Enrique, E.B. Magalona, and Cauayan.

Cash bets worth P8,586, lotto tally sheets, bookies identification cards, among other items were recovered during the operations./JB, WDJ