Four high ranking police officers were arrested for playing online Sabong and drinking inside an eatery.
The Philippine National Police partnered with the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) arrested three officers assigned to the PNP Health Services: Staff Sergeant Erwin Gobis, Corporal Ariel Pasion, Senior Master Sergeant Demetrio Laroya, one officer from the PNP Crime Laboratory: Staff Sergeant Gerry Ocampo, off duty civilian staff member Leo Ocinar, the alleged owner of the establishment Teddy Carpio, and former police officer Fidel Agustin.
The arrest occurred inside an eatery in Barangay Bagong Lipunan, Cubao, Quezon City at 10 pm. The arrest produced evidence of betting funds of more than PHP14,000, two televisions, a roll of betting tickets, 23 bottles of wine, a digital video recorder for CCTV, and two signal HD digital boxes.
The arrest follows new operational orders for the Philippine National Police and IMEG to punish misbehaving officers. The arrest made in the Quezon City restaurant followed several reported tips that these officers frequented the eatery to gamble and drink. The arrested individuals and evidence are in the custody of the PNP-IMEG at this moment.
The arrested officers will face charges for violating PD No. 1602 and RA 6713 Code of Conduct and Ethical Standard for Public Officials and Employees and be dismissed from their service post. President Duterte warned the officers via direct order which banned officers from drinking in public spaces. PHP Chief Oscar Albayalde says despite the law and constant warnings some officers chose to misbehave, thus resulting in the need for the PNP-IMEG to make arrests.
The Chief provided direct orders for police to avoid drinking alcohol, going to night clubs, and gambling dens. The PNP Chief continued by saying, “This is what we warned hard-headed cops about. As we’ve said, we will not relent on this program and we will show no mercy on this people.” Chief Albayalde reiterated the effectiveness of the IMEG in squashing drug, human trafficking, financial crimes, cybercrime, security violations, and graft and corrupt practices.
Police Colonel Romeo Caramat, the head of the IMEG which was formerly known as the Counter-Intelligence Task Force, says the worst part of the Cubao arrest was that the officers were participating in illegal gambling through online Sabong networks. Col. Romeo Caramat says only one e-Sabong license is active and it is for the Phil Cockfighting International Inc in Pampanga.
The officers would have easily avoided these violations if they had used legal Philippine online gambling sites.