Sec. Roxas mobilizes PNP agaist gambling

Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas has ordered the mobilization of all intelligence units of the Philippine National Police (PNP) as part of the government's intensified campaign against criminality that targets organized crime groups, criminal gangs, illegal gambling, wanted persons, loose firearms and private armed groups.

In his order to PNP Director General Alan Purisima and Director for Intelligence Cipriano Querol Jr., he said all available manpower and resources of the national police must be fielded to neutralize illegal activities throughout the country and put criminals behind bars.

"Kailangang tugisin natin ang mga kriminal na ito, sino man sila at nasaan man sila," Roxas said in issuing his marching orders. "Walang puwang sa ating lipunan ang mga illegal na gawain at tungkulin nating pangalagaan ang ating mga mamamayan sa lahat ng oras."

In response to Roxas' directive, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, the PNP's main investigation arm, reported that it has arrested a total of 317 persons filed 94 cases in court, and confiscated at least 31 firearms since the intensified anti-crime drive was launched last month.

Roxas said even the Office for Internal Security, a PNP group assigned to his office at the Department of the Interior and Local Government, has also been ordered to take part in the anti-crime drive in an effort to maximize all available police manpower.

He said the Special Project Unit under Chief Insp. Ferjen Torred raided suspected video karera operations in the cities of Las Pinas, Paranaque and Malabon during the first week of March and confiscated 23 video karera machines.

For his part, Chief Supt. Francsco Uyami Jr., the CIDG director, said his men also carried out 100 operations against illegal gambling, arresting 263 persons and filing 73 cases against suspected bet collectors and personnel of illegal games like jueteng, horseracing bookies and video karera, as well as "Swertres" and "Last Two Digits" which have replaced the notorious jueteng in many areas in the country.

More significantly, the CIDG reported 11 operations against organized crime groups and criminal gangs, arresting 26 persons and confiscating five assorted firearms. Six cases have been filed in court.

Its campaign against loose firearms, on the other hand, yielded 26 assorted high-powered and low-powered guns, as well as explosives and ammunition, leading to the arrest of 13 persons and the filing of two cases.

The CIDG also said it has arrested 18 wanted persons, including 13 who were wanted for heinous and major crimes, and filed 13 cases in various courts nationwide. Two persons suspected of involvement in human trafficking were also arrested and charged in court while six trafficking victims were rescued in two separate operations.

"Simula pa lamang ito ng ating pinaigting na kampanya laban sa mga kriminal. Sa mga darating na mga araw ay lalo pang titindi ang ating mga operasyon, at tututukan natin ang resulta ng mga pagkilos ng lahat ng PNP operating units ukol dito," Roxas said. (PNA)