Albayalde on Binay criticizing PNP for lotto closure: We know our mandate

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Oscar Albayalde on Monday assured the public that police would not relent in its operations against criminality following Senator Nancy Binay's criticism that authorities are focused on shutting down lotto outlets.

"Hinding-hindi mapapabayaan ang ating ano... We know our mandate, hindi tayo puwedeng nakatutok diyan. It's not literally na babantayan 'yung lotto outlet," Albayalde said during a press conference.

"This is a one-day operation. Hindi naman naubos 'yung ating pulis dito. As I've said, hindi mauubos 'yung 180,000 na members of the Philippine National Police dito sa closure," he added.

According to Albayalde, a total of 30,284 Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) gaming outlets operating small time lottery as well as other lotto outlets have already been closed.

"Actually, the closure was already finished with more than 30,000 na nasara na. What we will do now, we will just monitor kung 'yan ba ay binuksan without proper authority. Pero tapos na closure," he said.

On Sunday, Binay slammed the police for making a great show of closing down lotto outlets instead of focusing on actual police work.

"Instead of wasting their time in closing down lotto outlets, bakit di nila pagdiskitahan habulin at hulihin ang mga nasa wanted list nila, o yung mga insidente ng patayan sa Negros?" Binay said.

"Ano ba ang kailangan mas i-prioritize ng PNP--ang pag-padlock ng lotto outlets, o pagsugpo ng krimen? Place the highest priority on going after criminals," she added.

It was on Friday when President Rodrigo Duterte ordered a halt in all PCSO gaming operations due to alleged massive corruption. — RSJ, GMA News