MANILA, Philippines - While the Philippine National Police has declared an all-out war against illegal gambling, it would not be as bloody as the war against illegal drugs, PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa assured the public yesterday.

The PNP would adopt the same double barrel approach, a term meaning that the upper barrel would be focused on gambling financiers or high-value targets and the lower against street-level operations.

This is an all-out war but it would not be as bloody (as the war against drugs) because gamblers are not as crazy as drug addicts who kill even if there is no threat. Gambling is just about money, theres no need to pay for it with life, Dela Rosa said in Filipino.

Under Executive Order 13, President Duterte directed the PNP, National Bureau of Investigation and other law enforcement agencies to intensify the campaign against illegal gambling in coordination with the departments of Justice, Interior and Local Government, and Information and Communications Technology.

It also directed the agencies to coordinate and act on requests of gambling regulatory authorities to investigate and stop illegal gambling activities in their respective jurisdictions.

If the stakeholders will cooperate, Dela Rosa said, the problem on illegal gambling will be addressed within six months, after noting that the entire country is affected by this problem.

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Unlike illegal drugs, which infected 92 percent of Metro Manila barangays, Dela Rosa said illegal gambling operations could be traced even in far-flung and mountainous areas.

It has not been eradicated. Every barangay has it and its more widespread than drugs. There is cara y cruz, cards it is present. When we say massive, all forms of illegal gambling, even cockfighting, will be checked. Many barangay chairmen may get angry with us. But we will prioritize the illegal numbers game because it robs the PCSO (Philippine Charity Sweepstakes) of income, Dela Rosa said, referring to the forms of illegal gambling that use coins, cards, fighting cocks or lottery.

The PNP directorate for operations is also tasked to check on all illegal online gambling activities.

For those that would be caught, Dela Rosa promised strict enforcement of Presidential Decree 1602 and Republic Act 9287, which both set stiffer penalties against violators.

Duterte wanted to rid the country of all forms of illegal gambling activities that may mutate into other forms of organized crime including drug trafficking, illegal vices, money laundering and kidnapping.

Dela Rosa tasked the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to lead the anti-gambling campaign as he also ordered all regional police directors to implement similar operations.

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Bato: War on illegal gambling won't be bloody - Philippine Star