Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office Director Col. Timmar Alam and six police chiefs were relieved from their posts following simultaneous operations against alleged illegal numbers games in six areas of the province, the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region said.
PRO-NIR said the reliefs were carried out under the Philippine National Police’s “one-strike policy” on illegal gambling after the Regional Special Operations Group personnel arrested six individuals in Bayawan City, Guihulngan City, Sibulan, Pamplona, Tayasan and Ayungon on Friday, Aug. 28.
The operations were conducted from around 10:14 a.m. to 1:34 p.m. and targeted individuals allegedly soliciting and collecting bets for illegal numbers games in violation of Republic Act 9287.
Police recovered betting slips, improvised receipts, claim stubs, notebooks containing number combinations, marked money and cash believed to be gambling proceeds.
PRO-NIR said P550 in marked money and P620 in alleged proceeds, or a total of P1,170, were recovered.
Following the operations, the PNP ordered the relief of Alam and the six police commanders whose areas of responsibility were covered by the operations.
Those relieved were Lt. Col. Joeson Parallag of Bayawan City police, Lt. Col. Romeo Cubo of Guihulngan City police, Maj. Mary Jean Gutierrez of Sibulan police, Capt. James-Taylor Pineda of Pamplona police, Capt. Arturo Marfil III of Tayasan police, and Capt. Joesanne Magalso of Ayungon police.
Col. Lito Patay, deputy regional director for operations of PRO-NIR, was designated officer-in-charge of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office in addition to his current duties.
Also designated new officers-in-charge are Lt. Col. Ronoel Gragasin Fungo for the Bayawan City Police Station, Lt. Col. Nerito Sedilles Lobrido – Guihulngan City Police Station, Maj. Antonio Quiampao De Leon Jr. – Sibulan Police Station, Capt. Berwyn Benitez Soreno – Ayungon Police Station, Capt. Cecile Jakosalem Mingay – Tayasan Police Station, and Capt. Roldan Ingo Marana – Pamplona Police Station.
PRO-NIR Regional Director Brig. Gen. Romano Cardiño said the reliefs were based on the principle of command responsibility under the PNP’s one-strike policy.
“The presence and continued operation of illegal gambling activities within an area of responsibility cannot be tolerated,” Cardiño said.
He said police commanders are expected to prevent, detect and act against illegal activities within their jurisdictions.
“This is not merely about conducting arrests. It is about ensuring that our commanders remain vigilant, proactive, and fully accountable for what happens within their respective areas of responsibility,” Cardiño added.
PRO-NIR said anti-illegal gambling operations and intelligence gathering will continue throughout the region.*
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