By LITO RULONA
Correspondent
THE president of a group of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office-authorized lotto outlets here wants the head of the city’s Liga ng mga Barangay to become a member of a proposed anti-gambling task force in the city.
Astrid Jose Bana, president of the Misamis Oriental-Cagayan de Oro Lotto Agents’ Association, proposed that the Liga president, Councilor Yan Lam Lim, be made a member of the proposed task force, citing the need for barangay officials to help in the anti-illegal gambling campaign.
He said president of the Liga ng mga Barangay would be in the position to do this.
Bana said the proposed task force should also include the city prosecutor to make sure that cases filed against suspects are handled properly.
Bana said this as councilors on Monday urged Mayor Oscar Moreno to create the task force that would spearhead the campaign against illegal gambling operations in the city.
Councilors Zaldy Ocon and Teodulfo Lao Jr. said Moreno should create the task force, and order raids and the arrest of people involved in illegal gambling activities in the city.
Councilors Romeo Calizo and Ocon have started hearing recommendations on the proposed task force.
One proposal is that the task force should include representatives of the police, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), all barangay chairmen, the city’s Regulatory and Complaints Board (RCB), the Misamis Oriental-Cagayan de Oro Lotto Agents’ Association, city legal officer, city treasurer, and retired policemen like Benjamin Rada and Roque Marban.
Lao said the task force should coordinate with barangay officials. “The barangay chairman can identify those involved in the illegal gambling and possibly, the financiers.”
Supt. Aaron Mandia, chief for operations of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo), said that as of Oct. 18, 73 police anti-illegal gambling operations were conducted in the city resulting in the seizure of 25 “video karera” machines, and a halt in the operations of 10 illegal lotto outlets and 31 Suertres operations.
But of the 73 police operations, police were only able to file 25 cases against suspects.
Lao said the PCSO-authorized lotto agents’ group can file charges if city hall fails to act on their problem.
“They can include barangay officials in the case if they fail to help,” Lao said.
In another related development, Misamis Oriental Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano ordered a crackdown on local officials and their associates who are among 33 suspected “illegal gambling personalities” in the province and city.
Emano’s order came after he officially signed an executive order for the immediate organization of Anti-Illegal Gambling Task Force in Misamis Oriental.
The provincial task force is composed of officials coming of the police in the province, Camp Alagar, Camp Evangelista, provincial administrator Joy Mateo; Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer Jun Dy and Bana.
“Dili ko mosaad pero among paningkamotan nga madakpan kining 33 ka ngalan,” Emano said.
The 33 are alleged illegal gambling financiers and operators in a list submitted by Bana’s organization.
Bana said 20 people in the list are in the province’s 2nd District, three in the 1st District, and 10 others are in Cagayan de Oro.
The list include alleged financiers, coordinators and protectors from the police, barangay and local governments.
Emano warned that the capitol would not tolerate officials who are caught during raids.
“We will not help them,” Emano said.
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