New CCPO Chief Faces Challenge vs Illegal Gambling

Now that Senior Superintendent Noli Romana has been appointed already by Camp Crame as the new chief of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), he is facing a great challenge to disprove the reports that he allegedly protects the illegal gambling operators while he was still assigned in Negros Oriental.

Mayor Michael Rama who was still in Japan Tuesday was so happy that finally Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Cesar Purisima had complied with his promise when he visited the latter at his office in Camp Crame a few weeks ago.

Acting Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella admitted that he received numerous reports about the rampant illegal gambling operations in different barangays of the city and Romana should immediately act on it once he will assume his post.

Then Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 director Marcelo Garbo had earlier ordered investigation against Romana for his failure to stop the illegal gambling operations in Negros Oriental during his incumbency as director of the provincial police office.

Before Garbo proceeded to his new assignment as director of the National Capital Region (NCR), he relieved Romana in Negros Oriental and placed him under investigation, including the two of his trusted men who were reportedly caught on video while on the act of receiving bribe money from illegal gamblers.

According to Labella the report that Romana failed to act against illegal gambling operations in Negros Oriental should be given consideration by the mayor or to challenge him to initiate intensified campaign against all kinds of illegal gambling.

Republic Act 8551 or the New Police Act of 1998 provides that “The control and supervision of anti-gambling operations shall be within the jurisdiction of local government executives.”