Police destroy over 50 illegal gambling machines

Over 50 "video karera" and "fruit game" machines were destroyed in Camp Crame on Tuesday morning in line with the directive of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa to intensify the campaign against illegal gambling.

The destruction ceremony was led by PNP Deputy Chief for Operations Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar.

WATCH: PNP deputy chief for operations Police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar led the destruction of illegal gambling machines seized from the cities of Caloocan, Muntinlupa and Pasay. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/EEVkJYMJtp

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According to PNP's Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group chief Police Colonel Ronald Lee, the machines were confiscated in depressed areas in the cities of Caloocan, Muntinlupa and Pasay.

"Marami kaming mga nakuha. Ang lahat ng mga ito ay more than 50 pieces ng video karera at 'yung mga nakumpiska namin na halaga ng mga coins ay more than P30,000," Lee said in a press briefing.

"Nagsimula itong operations namin nang nagpababa ng direktiba ang ating Chief PNP na 'no take policy' at ipinag-utos niya na mag-operate kami against illegal gambling and video karera," he added.

According to Lee, a total of 24 civilians were also arrested during their four-day operations. Further details on the nabbed personalities were not disclosed.

Meanwhile, Eleazar believes that the operation of illegal gambling was the second social problem next to drug menace, noting that it could instigate dysfunctionalism in the society.

"We know that if we are to compare this to illegal drugs, makikita natin na puwede talaga ito magkaroon ng effect sa atin," Eleazar said. —KG, GMA News