Scraping off the former police chief of Ubay from the soils of Bohol serves as the police provincial command's warning shot to the rest of trusted men who would fail to implement the all-out war against all forms of gambling. Considering the statements of witnesses, provincial director of the Philippine National Police-Bohol, Police Senior Superintendent Edgardo Ingking want to rid of the former Ubay Police Station chief, Police Superintendent Eduardo Saavedra for having sullied the reputation of police forces by receiving protection money from financiers and coordinators of illegal gambling operations. Ingking blamed Saavedra for the proliferation of swertres in Ubay, amid his declaration of all-out war against all forms of illegal gambling in all corners of the province.

In his two-page complaint lodged before the regional office of the National Police Commission, Ingking cited that Saavedra has “tremendously tainted the image of the PNP”. On this, Ingking asked the Police Regional Office in Cebu City to relieve Saavedra from the Bohol Provincial Police Office and reassign the former Ubay chief of police to the Holding Center of PRO-7. He explained that if Saavedra remains with the provincial command, he would only cause further damage than remedy. “Considering his rank and status in the organization, there is an eminent danger that he will intimidate civilian and [low-ranking] police witnesses who might be discouraged to testify against him,” Ingking explained.

The provincial police chief also said the reassignment will be advantageous on the part of Saavedra, considering that the venue of the investigation and hearing of the administrative case will be done in Cebu City . Saavedra was relieved from the Ubay Police Station a few days before the synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections on October 27, last year and is now in floating status at the Bohol Provincial Police Office at Camp Francisco Dagohoy, in Tagbilaran City . The provincial command obtained two sworn statements issued by police officers and two more by civilians.

The sworn statements of SPO2 Fernando Vergara, PO1 Joshua Limaco, one Daniel Boyonas and one Wilfredo Avenido narrated the details of the case. The affidavits alleged that Saavedra received weekly protection money from coordinators and financiers of swertres in Ubay. According to the witnesses, Saavedra had allegedly been doing it during the period between the months of May until his relief in October 2007, “for monetary gains, by abusing his position and in reckless disregard of the oath of office which is to enforce the law. The underground swertres operation is punishable under Republic Act 9287 amending Presidential Decree 1602, Ingking cited.