Gov. Fuentes mulls reward system to combat illegal gambling

KORONADAL CITY
- To solve problems on rampant illegal gambling, the provincial government of
South Cotabato plans to give rewards to ushers and bettors who can file a case
against its financier.

South Cotabato
Gov. Daisy Avance Fuentes, said during the Provincial Peace and Order Council
(PPOC) meeting Wednesday that police cannot file a case against illegal
gambling tycoons in the province because of absence of witnesses.

We know who the
financiers of illegal gambling are and it is already a common knowledge in the province,
the problem is after giving their oral testimony, possible witnesses refused to
sign a written testimony,” Fuentes said, adding to encourage witnesses to come
up with a signed testimony, a reward must be given to them.

These illegal
gambling financiers are earning millions of pesos, so we must give bigger
reward to somebody who can pursue a case against them,” Fuentes said.

Reward system
was proven to be successful in illegal drugs campaign in South Cotabato.

For every
person involved in illegal drug trade that they can arrest, law enforcers in
the province receive corresponding amount as reward.

The governor
wants to replicate this in the provincial government’s campaign against illegal
gambling.