BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan ordered the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) to intensify its anti-gambling operations in order to curb the proliferation of numerous illegal forms of gambling that now exist in the different parts of the city in order to restore the trust and confidence of the people in their ability to discipline local residents from patronizing illegal gambling.
The local chief executive disclosed he had been receiving numerous text messages from concerned citizens reporting the resurgence of illegal gambling in existing bingo stations in the city which had been usually done in similar situations in the past, thus, the BCPO should know how to apprehend those involved in the use of the bingo stations for illegal colored and card games during the late hours of the night and the wee hours of the morning.
He added all text messages sent to him were forwarded to BCPO officials for their appropriate action and he is still awaiting the required report on the outcome of their operations against the operation of illegal gambling in established bingo stations in the city’s central business district area.
“We have not deviated from our stand against gambling that is why our police operatives must be alert to act on reports of illegal gambling operations so that they will be able to apprehend those involved in the illegal gambling operations,” Domogan stressed.
He called on concerned citizens to continue providing local officials the needed information regarding the operations of illegal gambling so that he can issue the appropriate orders to the local police to be on their toes to act on the matter considering the importance of putting a total stop on gambling in the city so as not to compromise the morals of the people.
According to him, it is unfortunate that there are individuals who seem to enjoy gambling as part of their daily lives and that they cannot allow a certain day to pass without gambling.
It can be recalled that over the past two decades, the city government had been voicing out their vehement opposition to all forms of gambling through various resolutions and ordinances but it seems the said local legislative measures are merely scrap because even local officials and law enforcers do not abide by such guiding principles.
Domogan said all concerns brought to his attention in relation to the operation of illegal gambling stations were already transmitted to the BCPO and it is now up to the police to do their duties and responsibilities, except if there are police officers who are protecting the illegal gambling operations and that they are in cahoots with some irresponsible city officials.
He cited the limited number of the local police force cannot guard the city’s population 24 hours a day that is why concerned citizens must continue providing city officials and the police with the key information that will result to the arrest of those involved in illegal gambling operations for them to answer for the obvious crimes that they have violated.
Aside from the use of the bingo stations for illegal colored and card games, jueteng, the famous poor man’s game, continues to proliferate and that collections of bets are publicly done even within the different parts of the city market and parking areas of public utility jeepneys not only in the central business district but also in the different barangays citywide.
By Dexter A. See
