By Azer Parrocha/PNA
MANILA — President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Thursday warned police personnel that he would assign Army Rangers to patrol Roxas Blvd. in Manila if they do not stop engaging in gambling activities, particularly in a Japanese-owned hotel and casino.
Duterte issued the stern warning against cops staying anywhere near casino resort and hotel Okada Manila in Parañaque, describing it as “crawling with usurers and kidnappers.”
“Yung Okada diyan. I’d like to announce, lahat kayong mga pulis, umalis kayo diyan (That Okada. I’d like to announce, all you cops, stay away from there),” he said in his speech during the inauguration of the Cavite Gateway Terminal, the country’s first container barge port, in Tanza, Cavite.
Duterte said if he loses his patience, then he would consider assigning army rangers along Roxas Blvd. to check on cops engaged in gambling.
“One more policeman there and incident and I will call the Rangers to come down and patrol the whole of Dewey (Roxas) Blvd.,” he said.
Duterte described Okada, one of the hotels located on the Entertainment City gaming strip, as a place where “low-life” members of the society stay.
“What are the policemen doing there? What’s your business there?” he asked cops, warning to sack them if caught.
“If you violate my order, I will dismiss you from the service.
That’s an order. Because you are there to commit a crime. You are not assigned there or I will assign the army to patrol there,” he added. “Mamili kayo (Choose), either the military will do the patrolling there or you go out of that place.”
Duterte said he does not want to see any law enforcement personnel, either in uniform or in civilian clothes, engaged in gambling activities since this gives the country more problems.
“You’re making the problem more serious than I can handle. Do not make it hard for me. Tutal wala kayong hiningi sa akin na hindi ko binigay (I have given you everything you asked from me),” he said, referring to the government’s efforts to provide the police force with firearms, double their salaries, and take care of their families in case of death.
Earlier, Duterte, who has repeatedly voiced out his dislike for gambling, said he would not allow the construction of new casinos in the country.
The Philippines is one of Asia’s fastest-growing gambling markets.
