The Philippine National Police (PNP) should refrain from assigning its personnel to secure Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) so as not to taint the image of the organization.
Senator Ronald Dela Rosa said he has received information of PNP personnel allegedly involved in POGO-related crimes.
“In able to clean your organization, sabihan mo stop deploying security to these POGO para matapos na ‘yang isyu na ‘yan,” the former top cop told PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. during a budget hearing conducted by the Finance committee.
Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. agreed with Dela Rosa and quickly issued a directive to file charges against any PNP personnel who are proven to be involved.
“Sanctions ang ibibigay natin, disciplinary ones. Let’s stop this practice.”
“Kunin mo mga pangalan nito and of course, sanctions ang ibibigay natin, disciplinary ones. Let’s stop this practice. Sulatan mo lahat ito,” Abalos told Azurin.
The DILG chief assured the senators that they will take immediate action after committee chair Senator Sonny Angara suggested also monitoring POGOs’ private security details.
Azurin reported to the committee that the Police Security and Protection Group can still deploy 2,000 personnel as security detail out of its total of 2,541 personnel.
“We only provide security based sa threat level na na-assess ng ating kapulisan.”
“We only provide security based sa threat level na na-assess ng ating kapulisan,” he said.
The Senate has yet to decide on whether to totally stop POGO operations in the country or continue but with tighter regulations.
PNP proposed a budget of P201.928 million for next year but was only granted P191.496 million by the Department of Budget and Management.
