Relief of city police chief irks Sultan Kudarat mayor

PRO-12 chief denies link with gambling syndicates

On Feb 15, 2021

Tacurong City Mayor Angelo Roncal Montilla (left) explains to local newsmen that the relief of the city police chief had something to do with his order to go after the Peryahan numbers game in the city.

TACURONG CITY, SULTAN KUDARAT- The city government here has recalled all service vehicles issued to the local police after the police regional command under P/BGen. John Michael Dubria, ordered the relief of the city police chief following the latter’s unrelenting campaign against all illegal numbers game in the city.

City Mayor Angelo Roncal Montilla said P/Lt. Col. Rey Egos was sacked from his post and was replaced by P/Lt. Col. Joan Maganto, without clear explanation Dubria.

Montilla said he was felt slighted after he was bypassed by PRO-12 when the incoming police chief was installed without his knowledge and concurrence.

He said that under the law, the local chief executive (LCE) is given the prerogative to choose from the list of at least three nominees who are recommended to the post by the police regional headquarters.

Montilla was referring to a provision under RA 7160 or the ‘Local Government Code of 1991.’

He said that the sudden relief of Egos could have something to do with his directive to the local police to go after the ‘Peryahan’ number games in the city whose permit to operate was already revoked by the Philippine Charity Sweepstake Office (PCSO).

The city mayor explained that he ordered the closure of all ‘Peryahan’ games outlets in the city after he received a notice from the PCSO that the franchise of ‘Globaltech Online Mobile Corp.’ to operate a Peryahan numbers game had already been suspended in February 2020.

“Hence. the operation of “Peryahan’ numbers game in the city is deemed illegal,” Montilla stressed.

PRO-12 director, P/BGen. John Michael Dubria, has denied protecting illegal gambling operators in his AOR, in particularly in Sultan Kudarat. But local officials say his name is being ‘dropped’ by the group in their illegal activity.

The city mayor also withdrew the support for operational funds given by the city government to the local police office.

The operators of the ‘Peryahan’ who are said to be from Davao region had established outlets in the city and several towns in Sultan Kudarat to solicit bets for ‘Last 2,’ an illegal numbers game known as “jueteng” in Luzon.

Montilla said the operation of Globaltech had also earned the ire of other local and barangay officials following the proliferation of the illegal numbers game in their localities.

But, others kept to themselves after the operators dropped the name of Dubria who allegedly gave the “go signal” for the operation of ‘Peryahan’ games in the entire Sultan Kudarat.

Dubria, for his part, denied the allegations and instead asserted he has “ordered an intensified campaign” against all form of illegal gambling activities in province.

He also refused to comment on the relief of Egos as the police chief of this city (contributed photo and article).