Negros Oriental police director, six chiefs relieved

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) has relieved seven commissioned police officers, including the Negros Oriental provincial police director, under the Philippine National Police’s one-strike policy on illegal gambling.

Those relieved were Police Col. Timmar Alam, director of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOrPPO); Police Lt. Col. Joeson Parallag, officer in charge of Bayawan City Police Station; Police Lt. Col. Romeo Cubo, officer in charge of Guihulngan City Police Station; Police Maj. Mary Jean Gutierrez, officer in charge of Sibulan Municipal Police Station; Police Capt. James Taylor Pineda, officer in charge of Pamplona Municipal Police Station; Police Capt. Arturo Marfil III, officer in charge of Tayasan Municipal Police Station; and Police Capt. Joesanne Magalso, officer in charge of Ayungon Municipal Police Station.

Police Col. Lito Patay, PRO-NIR deputy regional director for operations, was designated to concurrently serve as NOrPPO officer in charge while the regional office searches for a new provincial director.

Police Lt. Col. Ronoel Fungo was named officer in charge in Bayawan City; Police Lt. Col. Nerito Lobrido in Guihulngan City; Police Maj. Antonio De Leon Jr. in Sibulan; Police Capt. Roldan Maraña in Pamplona; Police Capt. Cecile Jakosalem Mingay in Tayasan; and Police Capt. Berwyn Soreño in Ayungon.

The relief orders followed simultaneous operations by the Regional Special Operations Group that resulted in the arrests of six people who police said were caught soliciting and collecting bets for illegal numbers games.

Police conducted the operations from 10:14 a.m. to 1:34 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28.

Police reported recovering betting slips, improvised betting receipts, claim stubs, notebooks containing various number combinations, ballpoint pens, PHP 550 in bet money and PHP 620 in cash believed to be proceeds from illegal gambling.

In a statement, Police Brig. Gen. Romano Cardiño, PRO-NIR director, said the one-strike policy reflects the PNP leadership’s uncompromising stance against illegal gambling and other unlawful activities.

“Command responsibility is fundamental in the performance of every police officer,” Cardiño said.

He said the presence and continued operation of illegal gambling activities within an area of responsibility could not be tolerated.

Cardiño said commanders are expected to ensure that illegal activities are prevented, detected and decisively addressed.

The regional director said the commanders’ relief should serve as a stern warning to all police units and personnel that leadership carries accountability.

“This is not merely about conducting arrests. It is about ensuring that our commanders remain vigilant, proactive, and fully accountable for what happens within their respective areas of responsibility,” he said.

“The One-Strike Policy will be implemented fairly, firmly, and without exception,” he stressed.

The action followed a directive from PNP chief Police Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. to intensify the campaign against illegal gambling and take decisive administrative action against commanders who failed to stop its proliferation, particularly in Negros Oriental.

PRO-NIR assured the public that its campaign against illegal gambling would continue relentlessly.

Police commanders and personnel throughout the region were directed to intensify intelligence gathering, sustain anti-illegal gambling operations and strictly enforce gambling laws.

Republic Act No. 9287 defines an illegal numbers game as a gambling activity that uses numbers or combinations to determine jackpots.

The law provides for the administrative suspension or dismissal of law enforcers who fail to apprehend perpetrators of illegal numbers games.

PRO-NIR first implemented the one-strike policy in June when it relieved Police Maj. Fortunato Sabio Villafuerte, then chief of the Sibulan Municipal Police Station.

Villafuerte was replaced by Gutierrez, who is among the latest officers relieved under the same policy.