Cop caught gambling in casino leads ‘simple life,’ PNP exec claims

The police officer who was caught gambling in a casino in Parañaque City leads a simple life even if P600,000 worth of casino chips were recovered from him, Philippine National Police (PNP) Directorate for Operations chief Director Camilo Cascolan claimed on Wednesday.

Superintendent Adrian Antonio, a 35-year-old administrative officer at the Office of the Directorate for Operations at Camp Crame who was nabbed Tuesday night at the City of Dreams Resort and Casino, is a "good officer," according to Cascolan.

Cascolan said he has never received any report before about the gambling activities of his subordinate.

"To be frank none (report) because actually kinuha ko siya from Davao kasi he's a very good officer, he's very keen on details, alam niya lahat, he's actually one of those [who] developed what we call yung Patrol Plan 2030 ng Davao, siya yung head non eh," he said in an ambush interview with reporters.

"Simpleng simple siya, walang alahas, wala lahat... Pagkatrabaho siya yung gumagawa, siya yung nagrereport sa akin, I cannot detect any (problem)," he added.

Antonio, who has been administratively relieved immediately after his arrest, is now under the custody of the Southern Police District.

The police monitored Antonio through a closed-circuit television at the casino where he was caught playing baccarat.

"Subject (Antonio) had also an altercation with another player in the said Casino that revealed his true identity," a police report said.

Antonio will face charges for disobedience in violation of Article 231 of the Revised Penal Code and Section 2 of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for public officials and employees.

Other charges he will face include Presidential Decree 1067B, prohibiting all government officials and employees, including policemen from entering and playing inside casino.

Cascolan, meanwhile, said that they won't tolerate such actions in the police force as it has already been ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte to ban government employees from entering casinos.

He also expressed hope that the charges against Antonio will be "mitigated" since he has been exemplary in his work.

"So hopefully, sana mabago natin, ma-rehab natin si Adrian. At the same time we do not condemn him, it just so happened that he made a risk of going to that casino," Cascolan said.

PNP chief Director General Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa earlier warned that police officers caught gambling in casinos will be dismissed from the service.

In October last year, the country's top cop ordered the conduct of intelligence operation in all casinos in the Entertainment City in Parañaque to identify the police officers loitering there. — MDM, GMA News