Dela Rosa: You Have 15 Days To Stop Illegal Gambling

Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Ronald 'Bato' dela Rosa issued a 15-day ultimatum to all police regional directors to put an end to illegal gambling.

Dela Rosa told reporters at Camp Crame: 

"I am directing all regional directors to go all out against illegal gambling. I'm giving them 15 days to stop illegal gambling. "

He added,

"If they can not stop illegal gambling, I will relieve them."

His order also includes all provincial police directors and chief of police to take the place of police officials who will fail in their operation against illegal gambling, according to the State of the Nation report.

"If they cannot stop illegal gambling, I will relieve them. I am giving them also the authority to relieve their provincial directors. And the provincial directors, I am giving them the authority to relieve their chiefs of police, those who are not performing, those who are not acting on my directive."

Meanwhile, dela Rosa also said that more 'nationwide scales' will be taken by the police to stop illegal drugs in the country,

The regional directors were not so happy about the order, Dela Rosa told reporters after their press conference.

He said he asked his regional directors if they can do it and all of them raised their hands.

The PNP chief said he doesn't care if the local government chiefs will be affected by their renewed campaign.

“Basta importante ma-address natin ang illegal gambling. Kung matamaan ang LGU, matamaan yung politicians na may interest diyan sa illegal gamlbing na ‘yan sorry na lang, we have to do this,”

Dela Rosa also cleared that his directive was not caused by an order from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to cut the PNP's cash incentives over its failure to stop illegal gambling.