By Jennifer P. Rendon
The orders remain: police officers are still not allowed to visit gambling dens such as casinos and cockpits.
On top of that, drinking in public places and going to areas of “ill repute” are still a no-no for cops.
Lieutenant Colonel Arnel Solis, Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) spokesperson, reiterated the warning after the arrest of a police official inside Resorts World Manila Casino in Pasay City over the weekend.
With the re-opening of cockpits, some police officers who are cockfight enthusiasts might be tempted to gamble.
“Once they are arrested or reported and the complaint against them are verified, they would be dealt with accordingly,” Solis said.
As a matter of policy, cops should not also be seen drinking liquor in public places.
“This practice doesn’t send a good example to the public that’s why it is still not allowed,” he said.
PNP chief General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. confirmed over the weekend the arrest of Major Rolando Isidoro after he was caught inside a casino.
Isidoro allegedly violated Article 231 of the Revised Penal Code in relation to Memorandum Circular No. 6 Series of 2016 and Republic Act 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees).
The 51-year-old Isidoro is an active PNP member presently assigned to the Personnel Holding and Accounting Section of the PNP Police Security Protection Group.
Azurin has earlier reiterated that police officers are prohibited from getting involved in all forms of illegal activities.
In Iloilo, no police officer was nabbed for engaging in illegal gambling for over a year already.
The latest was Corporal Virgilio Rojo, Jr., the policeman who was caught on video trying to flee from his colleagues following an illegal cockfight raid on July 14, 2021.
He was a member of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO).
On April 4, 2021, another policeman was also caught engaging in an illegal cockfight activity in San Joaquin, Iloilo.
Staff Sergeant Jose Digcabo-on, Jr. was back on duty status four days after he was meted a 1-month suspension when he was caught on Easter Sunday last year.
Pre-pandemic time, two policemen were believed to have engaged in online cockfight or sabong.
Police Corporal Ricky Setiar and Police Staff Sergeant Noli Gallaron were not caught in the act during an anti-illegal gambling operation in Janiuay, Iloilo late evening of Jan. 14, 2020.
But they were presumed to have been present but just went off before the arrest was made after their firearms were deposited at the vault of the Hernani Baranco Sports Complex.
Meanwhile, Solis said police officers should take this prohibition seriously as it might cost them their job.
