Police Regional Office-6 Director Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz yesterday said that there will be “zero tolerance” as far as illegal gambling is concerned in Western Visayas.

Cruz, who visited the Bacolod City Police Office, also warned policemen who may be involved in illegal gambling as protectors, that they will be meted appropriate penalties.

He stressed that the “one-strike policy” on illegal gambling, where a chief of police will be sacked from his or her post if other police units conduct operations in his area without their cooperation, is still in effect.

At the same time Cruz explained why the Regional Special Operations Group-6, was formed by former PRO-6 Director Chief Supt. Cepriano Querol at the height of illegal gambling controversies involving police and government officials in Luzon, was dissolved.

“RSOG (members) failed to focus on their work that's why we need to refocus it and replace it with new personnel”, Cruz said.

The new group that will go against illegal gambling in the Western Visayas is led by Supt. Manuel Payos.

Payos tapped the help of Supt. Leonardo Angcon, chief of the Intelligence Branch of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, who was his classmate in the Philippine National Police Academy.

Their successive operations against illegal gambling in Bacolod were marred by controversies considering that the city police has a Special Operations Group tasked to run against the illegitimate numbers game.

City Police Director Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz said that although Bacolod has consistently topped the drive against illegal gambling, they still need the support of other units to put a stop to the illegal numbers game.

Cruz also lauded the peace and order situation in Bacolod City and the intensified police patrol integrated system.*APN

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