CDO mayor says 80% of city police behind video karera

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines - Mayor Constantino Jaraula said the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) can not stop video karera operations because 80 percent of its officers and men are on the take or if not, their operators. Video karera, a gambling machine, has proliferated in 20 percent of the city's barangays. According to Jaraula, the police officers operate the gambling machines themselves or through their wives or partners to avoid being caught. "The corruption is already deeply rooted in our police force. It was existing before we came into office," Jaraula said. Police Region 10 Director Teodorico Capuyan said two of the police officers facing illegal arrest and torture raps are being investigated for their involvement in the video karera gambling operations in the city. Capuyan identified them as Chief Inspectors Jason Aguillon and Danieldo Tumanda. Aguillon formerly head the Special Operations Group of the Cocpo. Capuyan took over his post after charges of illegal arrest, torture, and evidence planting were filed against him. Cyrus Clent Jadap, a resident of Barangay Bonbon, Cagayan de Oro City, filed the said charges against Aguillon. Tumanda meanwhile is presently enrolled at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Training School in Barangay Patag, this city. Aguillon and Tumanda both denied they are video karera operators. But Jaraula was not satisfied. He told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro he was not fooled by the public display. He said he noticed the machines that were burned no longer have the sophisticated computers that run the programs. "Frankly, I was not satisfied by the operations made by the police," Jaraula said. - Sun.Star