“THERE is no stopping to our campaign and operation against illegal swertes and other forms of illegal gambling,” Gov. Aris Aumentado said in his statement, dispelling insinuations that he has given a go-signal to the illegal operations.
“My commitment remains steadfast for clean governance. All violators, regardless if they are my relatives or friends, must face the full force and consequence of the law. Upon my request, the NBI has likewise launched an ongoing investigation on the matter, he said.
The said statement is an apparent reaction to the expose’ of his relative Retired Colonel Teofisto Cabagnot of Philippine Army, linking him and other personalities to the illegal swertres operations in Bohol.
He told media earlier that he did not allow the operations of illegal gambling of any forms unless sanctioned by authorities concerned to make it legal.
“I have been appraised of the issues raised by Retired Colonel Teofisto Cabagnot of the operation of illegal swertres in Bohol. As mentioned during his press conference, my instruction to him is for the legal operation of the numbers’ game under the auspices of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office,” he said.
He clarified that this illegal gambling is a no-no under his administration.
He said, “It should be noted that during my State of the Province Address last year, I emphasized unequivocally my campaign against illegal swertres and other forms of illegal gambling. I gave instructions to our Bohol Police Provincial Office, led by PCOL. Lorenzo Batuan, to organize operations and to put an end to the said social cancer.”
And the Bohol Provincial Police Office under col Batuan launched the operations against any form of illegal gambling.
“In response to my directive, the PNP launched more than 500 operations across the province against illegal gambling last year, which included swertres, resulting to the arrest and prosecution of illegal gambling operatives. This year alone, more than 100 operations were conducted by the PNP from January to February with additional illegal gambling operatives caught.”
He assured his constituents that the Provincial Government he is running “will continue to be persistent and focused in pushing our beloved province forward through clean governance, effective public service, inclusive growth, and by putting the welfare of Boholanos first. This is our collective pursuit. This is my pledge to all my fellow Boholanos.” (ricobedencio@yahoo.com)
