By Jennifer P. Rendon and Felipe V. Celino
Illegal gambling, no matter how small time or held as a form of leisure, remains illegal.
And the involvement of a police officer only aggravates matters.
This was the warning of Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) as it initiated an administrative investigation against a policeman who was caught playing the card game tong-its with three civilians.
Lieutenant Colonel Joem Malong, PRO-6 spokesperson, said Wednesday that a case for violation of Presidential Decree 1602 (Providing Stiffer Penalties on Illegal Gambling) was already filed against Master Sergeant Wilmer Peral.
The 40-year-old Peral, an investigator of Sapi-an Police Station, was arrested along with Eduardo Ocana, 47; Nelson Villa, 58; and Romelyn Otocan, 45, on June 22, 2021 at Purok Malinong, Barangay Poblacion, Sapian, Capiz.
Fellow officers who arrested Peral also recovered a set of playing cards and P315 cash bet.
Aside from the criminal case, Peral would also be administratively charged.
Malong said that the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division (RIDMD) is handling the policeman’s case.
Even Peral’s fellow police officers who arrested the trio were not aware that he was in the area where the illegal gambling happened.
But prior to that, he was allegedly warned by his superior against engaging in any form of illegal gambling.
Aside from card games, there were previous reports that he was also into cockfighting.
PLT Nanneth Puasan, Sapian police chief, herself was surprised by Peral’s actuation despite her warning.
Puasan told reporters that she reminded Peral and other police officers to avoid illegal activities like gambling.
She said Peral’s actuations embarrassed her and the town’s police force.
She was dismayed because Peral, whom she regarded as a good investigator, was involved in illegal activities.
A resident of Sapian town, Peral has been in the police service for 10 years.
Peral said he was at Otocan’s house only to charge his cellphone.
But Puasan would not buy his alibi.
Peral and his three co-accused are now detained.
