REGIONAL state prosecutor Merlynn Uy defended the actions of the police officers who made a massive anti-gambling operation over the weekend.
In an interview over iFM RMN, Uy said that police officers are merely acting on the certification of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
Earlier, PCSO general manager Melquiades Robles issued a certification on January 15 attesting that Hexaprime Inc. is the sole small town lottery agent in Cagayan de Oro City.
Under a 2023 DOJ memorandum, prosecutors and police officers need to heavily coordinate in building criminal cases to ensure high conviction rates.
The entrapments last week netted 14 persons who were charged for illegal gambling or violation of Republic Act 9287, according to Diamond Millennium Corporation lawyer Dale Mordeno.
DMC is the other company contesting the exclusive operations of small town lottery in Cagayan de Oro City and Misamis Oriental.
Of the complaints filed, one was already dismissed “for lack of reasonable certainty of conviction if a case is filed in court.”
Uy said that particular complaint was dismmissed because the police officer in question did not follow correct entrapment procedure.
Mordeno had already threatened to file administrative complaints against police officers who were involved in the operations last weekend in Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro City.
Pressed for comment, police regional director Brig. Gen. Ricardo Layug said anybody can file a case against anybody.
“Hindi kami natatakot sa kaso,” Layug said during the sidelines of the pre-launching of Bagong Pilipinas January 24.
Mordeno was banking on a status quo ante order issued by the Supreme Court on PCSO’s July 2023 order to terminate DMC operations here.
But Hexaprime Inc. lawyer Delbert John Barsaga said the said order was already moot with the January 23 Court of Appeals decision finding PCSO did not err in issuing the termination.
“Petitioner failed to show prima facie allegation of grave abuse of discretion” on the part of PCSO, read a portiob of the Court of Appeals decision.
Hexaprime, Inc. was granted the authority to operate STL in Cagayan de Oro City and Misamis Oriental on October 17, 2023 following DMC’s termination.
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