11 Pangasinan cop chiefs relieved over illegal gambling

Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!

Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.

Visit Suniway.ph to learn

May 1, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The chief of the Pangasinan police and 10 other local police officials have been relieved from their posts in connection with the arrest of 170 people in separate anti-illegal gambling operations.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. ordered the relief of Pangasinan police director, Col. Ariel Mercullo, along with eight police chiefs and two heads of intelligence units.

Nartatez ordered police regional directors nationwide to conduct an operational and administrative review of the performance of provincial police directors as well as of city and municipal police chiefs.

The coordinated raids conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation targeted an organized illegal gambling network in the province.

Some of the gambling dens are reportedly located in Calasiao, Manaoag, Rosales and San Carlos City.

At a news briefing, PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño said the raids were among the reasons for the relief of the officials as these indicated that they were not doing enough to stop illegal gambling in their jurisdictions.

Tuaño said the officials would have been sacked from their posts had the raids been conducted by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, and other operating units from the national headquarters.