PNP to crackdown on STL collectors who moonlight as illegal bookies

The Philippine National Police has asked the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office for a list of all the authorized small lottery town collectors as it intensifies its campaign against illegal gambling.

PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. Dionardo Carlos explained because there had been occasions when arrested bookies or illegal numbers game collectors would avoid prosecution by claiming to authorized STL collectors.

“On the ground, ‘yung mga awtorisadong STL operators employ bet collectors ng mga bookies. Kapag hinuli ng pulis sinasabi nila na tao nila ‘yun. Kumbaga sasalbahin. E bakit n’yo kinuhang bet collector on the ground kung bookies naman ang ginagawa,” Carlos said.

The spokesperson added that this was the reason PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa ordered the arrest of all illegal bet collectors, and investigators would sort things out later.

The PCSO would also be informed of authorized STL collectors who also worked as illegal bookies.

“Why carry an ID when you are actually a bet collector for bookies, swertres, masiao. Kasi wala kaming listahan, we don’t have that list kung sino sino ‘yang mga ‘yan.  The field commanders have been asking for that (list). Makakita ka ng isang authorized na table na pwede ka tumaya, may ID siya ng STL, may katabi siya e ang tingin mo totoo rin pero yun pala bookies,” Carlos added

The PNP chief had also reiterated his warning to regional directors  and subordinates that they would be sacked if they  failed to stop illegal gambling in 15 days.

“Ang naging instruction ni chief PNP, the regional directors will have a free hand to remove or choose his provincial  director, chief of police, kapag nakita niyang hindi nagde-deliver ‘yung kanyang mga lower field commanders para totohanan. ‘Yun ang instruction during the command conference,” Carlos clarified. — DVM, GMA News