Incoming Philippine National Police chief Director Oscar Albayalde on Monday said police under his leadership would increase coordination with the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) in the campaign against illegal gambling.

Albayalde, currently National Capital Region (NCR) police chief, said in an interview that police must be able to distinguish between illegal and legal small town lottery operators as workers of illegal lotteries used fake uniforms and IDs.

He said local campaigns against illegal gambling would continue.

Consistent

As head of the NCR police, Albayalde said he had “repeatedly directed” all police districts under him to “intensify and sustain operations against illegal gambling.”

During his watch as NCR police chief, Albayalde said police had been consistent in arresting illegal gamblers.

PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan had expressed confidence that the effort to stop illegal gambling would be doubled under Albayalde.

Balutan, a retired Marine major general, belonged to Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Matikas” Class 1983, while Albayalde and outgoing PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa were members of the PMA “Sinagtala” Class 1986.

Crisis

“We have to face the illegal gambling crisis and double our efforts,” Balutan said.

Dela Rosa said the designation of Albayalde as his successor was the product of a “meeting of the minds.”

At a press conference on Tuesday in Camp Crame, Dela Rosa said the President did not appoint anyone just because he or she was from Davao City.

The Presidents’s appointments, said Dela Rosa, were all based on “merit.”

He said he and the President had a “meeting of minds” on the appointment of Albayalde as next PNP chief. —With a report from Jeannette I. Andrade