By Argosy Nazareno
Few months ago, I wrote about the illegal number game. Few weeks later, some operations halted for a couple of weeks because “they were told to stop”, but eventually resumed their operations. I always observe the same scenario in our place, they seem to toy with the people’s knowledge or is it some kind of a joke?
Some of the reasons why this illegal activity continue to flourish and even enjoyed by the masses are: due to the fact that it is cheaper and proliferate even in hard to reach barangays. PCSO somehow failed to match the wide coverage and failed its supposed reason for existence: to deprive illegal number games operations of their profitability.
This should stop because it is very clear that it is illegal as provided for by RA 9287 which provides a harsher penalty to public officials or officers who are involved in illegal gambling.
Section 5 of the said Act provides the following punishment: a) if the collector, agent, coordinator, controller, supervisor, maintainer, manager, operator, financier or capitalist of any illegal numbers game is a government employee and/or public official, whether elected or appointed shall suffer the penalty of twelve (12) years and one (1) day to twenty (20) years and a fine ranging from Three Million Pesos (P3,000,000) to Five Million Pesos (P5,000,000.00) and perpetual absolute disqualification from public office.
In addition to the penalty provided in the immediately preceding section, the accessory penalty of perpetual disqualification from public office shall be imposed upon any local government official who, having knowledge of the existence of the operation of any illegal numbers game in his/her jurisdiction, fails to abate or to take action, or tolerates the same in connection therewith. In the case of failure to apprehend perpetrators of any illegal numbers game, any law enforcer shall suffer an administrative penalty of suspension or dismissal, as the case may be, to be imposed by the appropriate authority.
Some people are thinking that this is a lesser evil than drugs but still its a clear defiance of the law. Are the mayors, sb members, police station commanders, local government officials, barangay officials and even religious sector leaders serious in their committment to completely eradicate the illegal numbers game in their area?
I commend the PNP’s relentless operation against illegal drugs but it should not overshadow and diminish the concerted efforts against illegal gambling. There should be no decrease in law enforcement because illegal gambling undermine our community and family values.
I might receive some ire from avid fans of illegal swertres here in Bohol but I dare them to join the crusade by changing their attitude, stop betting on the illegal swertres outlets or collectors and report all the people involved to discourage financiers from continuing with their illegal business.
If we do this together, nothing is impossible. Change has come.
Few months ago, I wrote about the illegal number game. Few weeks later, some operations halted for a couple of weeks because “they were told to stop”, but eventually resumed their operations. I always observe the same scenario in our place, they seem to toy with the people’s knowledge or is it some kind of a joke?
Some of the reasons why this illegal activity continue to flourish and even enjoyed by the masses are: due to the fact that it is cheaper and proliferate even in hard to reach barangays. PCSO somehow failed to match the wide coverage and failed its supposed reason for existence: to deprive illegal number games operations of their profitability.
This should stop because it is very clear that it is illegal as provided for by RA 9287 which provides a harsher penalty to public officials or officers who are involved in illegal gambling.
Section 5 of the said Act provides the following punishment: a) if the collector, agent, coordinator, controller, supervisor, maintainer, manager, operator, financier or capitalist of any illegal numbers game is a government employee and/or public official, whether elected or appointed shall suffer the penalty of twelve (12) years and one (1) day to twenty (20) years and a fine ranging from Three Million Pesos (P3,000,000) to Five Million Pesos (P5,000,000.00) and perpetual absolute disqualification from public office.
In addition to the penalty provided in the immediately preceding section, the accessory penalty of perpetual disqualification from public office shall be imposed upon any local government official who, having knowledge of the existence of the operation of any illegal numbers game in his/her jurisdiction, fails to abate or to take action, or tolerates the same in connection therewith. In the case of failure to apprehend perpetrators of any illegal numbers game, any law enforcer shall suffer an administrative penalty of suspension or dismissal, as the case may be, to be imposed by the appropriate authority.
Some people are thinking that this is a lesser evil than drugs but still its a clear defiance of the law. Are the mayors, sb members, police station commanders, local government officials, barangay officials and even religious sector leaders serious in their committment to completely eradicate the illegal numbers game in their area?
I commend the PNP’s relentless operation against illegal drugs but it should not overshadow and diminish the concerted efforts against illegal gambling. There should be no decrease in law enforcement because illegal gambling undermine our community and family values.
I might receive some ire from avid fans of illegal swertres here in Bohol but I dare them to join the crusade by changing their attitude, stop betting on the illegal swertres outlets or collectors and report all the people involved to discourage financiers from continuing with their illegal business.
If we do this together, nothing is impossible. Change has come.
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