Police Regional Office-6 Director, Chief Supt. Cepriano Querol, said Friday he hopes to put an end to illegal gambling in the region, particularly in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental, next year and has ordered an all-out-war against it.

Querol, however, said their efforts will not be successful without the cooperation of the people.

“I have directed the different field commanders to get the cooperation of the different sectors, so we can say that our campaign against illegal gambling is successful in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental,” he said.

The problem of illegal gambling in Bacolod and Negros is only about 30 percent, compared to other areas in the region, he added.

Querol said he has ordered the all-out-war particularly against jai-alai and stressed that he does not want a “moro-moro” type of operation.

He said he is confident they could solve the problem in Bacolod and Negros Occidental unlike other areas where illegal gambling is rampant and unabated, and it only needs the support of the local government units, the church, the media and other stakeholders, he added.

Querol also said he is thinking that sometime after their campaign, he will ask for a certification signed by the LGU, police chief, parish priest and a representative from the media that in a certain area, there is no illegal gambling.

This way, they can gauge their success in their campaign, he said.

Querol said the community is the important component in their crusade against illegal gambling. The problem is that it is being patronized by the poor sector of society who have made it their livelihood to ease their financial difficulty, he said.

If no one will patronize illegal gambling, it will not continue, he said.*CGS

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