30/08/2026
PNP DEALS DOUBLE BLOW TO ILLEGAL GAMBLING: 6 ARRESTED, NEGROS ORIENTAL PD AND 6 CHIEFS RELIEVED
The Philippine National Police, under the leadership of PNP Chief PGEN Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr., has dealt a decisive blow to illegal gambling in Negros Oriental, with six individuals arrested and seven police commanders relieved under the PNP’s One-Strike Policy.
On August 28, 2026, simultaneous operations conducted by the Regional Special Operations Group of the Police Regional Office Negros Island Region from 10:14 AM to 1:34 PM resulted in the arrest of six individuals in the municipalities of Ayungon, Tayasan, Sibulan, and Pamplona, and the cities of Bayawan and Guihulngan. The six individuals were apprehended for allegedly soliciting and collecting bets for illegal numbers games in violation of Republic Act No. 9287, or the Anti-Illegal Numbers Games Law.
The operations resulted in the recovery of betting slips, improvised betting receipts, claim stubs, notebooks containing various number combinations, ballpens, marked bet money, and cash believed to be proceeds from the illegal numbers games.
The positive operations prompted immediate administrative action, resulting in the relief of the Chiefs of Police of Ayungon, Tayasan, Sibulan, Pamplona, Bayawan, and Guihulngan, as well as the Provincial Director of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office, whose area of responsibility covers the entire province. Meanwhile, the Deputy Regional Director for Operations (DRDO) of PRO NIR was designated as Officer-in-Charge of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office in addition to his present duties.
“Police leadership demands accountability, and we will not hesitate to impose decisive action when commanders fail to address illegal activities within their areas of responsibility. Our operations must be backed by firm command responsibility and sustained enforcement,” said PGEN Nartatez.
“Hindi sapat na may mga nahuhuli lamang; kailangang matiyak ng bawat hepe na walang puwang ang ilegal na sugal sa kanilang nasasakupan. Pananagutan ng bawat lider ang pagpapatupad ng batas at pagpapanatili ng kaayusan,” he added.
The action also advances the PNP Focused Agenda, particularly Enhanced Managing Police Operations, by strengthening command accountability and ensuring that police units respond firmly to criminal activities within their areas of responsibility.
The PNP will sustain its intensified campaign against illegal gambling and hold police commanders accountable for failing to address unlawful activities within their jurisdictions.
As the PNP strengthens law enforcement and command accountability against illegal gambling under the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., it continues to assure the public of “Bagong PNP para sa Bagong Pilipinas: Serbisyong Mabilis, Tapat, at Nararamdaman.”
(PNP-PIO)