The Philippine National Police has reactivated an adhoc special police unit that will investigate and conduct interdiction operations against illegal gambling activities.
PNP Chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome issued Letter of Instruction 05/2012, activating PNP Anti-Illegal Gambling-Special Operations Task Forces (AIG-SOTF) at the national, regional and provincial levels.
Bartolome also reiterated the “One Strike Policy” on Chiefs of Police who will be remiss in their duty to curb illegal gambling activities in their areas of responsibility.
Under the policy, any successful anti-illegal gambling operation by AIG-SOTF in a town or city shall result in the relief of the Chief of Police or Precinct Commander. A City Chief of Police shall be relieved when two of his subordinate Police Community Precinct (PCP) Commanders had been relieved under similar circumstances.
Meanwhile, the relief of three Chiefs of Police in a province or chartered city under such policy shall cause the relief of the Provincial or City Director. Higher in the command ladder, a Regional Director shall be relieved from post when two subordinate Provincial or City Directors have been relieved under the scheme.
According to Bartolome, the AIG-SOTF in the national, regional and provincial levels shall be responsible for conducting general law enforcement operations against illegal numbers game called “jueteng” and other forms of illegal gambling.
THE AIG-SOTF shall be responsible also in production and analysis of intelligence and information regarding illegal gambling activities including active counter-intelligence and investigation to identify PNP personnel and other government officials and employees involved in illegal gambling activities.
Bartolome named Deputy Director General Emil Sarmiento, PNP Deputy Chief for Operations as Commander of the national PNP AIG-SOTF with Police Director Samuel Diciano, PNP Director for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM) as Deputy Task Force Commander.
Providing the muscle to the national AIG-SOTF are designated teams from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Intelligence Group (IG), and Special Action Force (SAF).
Down the line in the regional and provincial levels, Regional and Provincial Directors shall head their respective AIG-SOTFs composed of the local police intelligence units, mobile groups, and CIDG.
