Irked by reports on the proliferation of illegal gambling, Quezon City authorities said on Wednesday that it will impose stiff fines, maximum penalties and appropriate actions against the protectors and unscrupulous syndicates involved in the errant number games.

Councilor Jaime Borres of the third district of Quezon City said he will meet with police authorities and barangay officials to discuss plans on how to close down gambling dens masquerading as legitimate Internet and computer shops.

He said that concerned citizens earlier trooped to his office complaining that their children were not attending their classes regularly opting to spend their school hours in computer shops near schools and churches.

The group mostly parents of public high school students said that the internet shops have been invaded by youthful gang members involved in lawlessness casting bad influences to their children.

“Alam natin na ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan. I will meet with Gen. Elmo San Diego and the concerned barangay chairmen to discuss the matter. Malaking problema ito,’’ Borres noted.

One of the complaining parents said that the teenage gang members taught his son to use drugs, drink liquor, cut classes, gamble and extort money from other students in their community.

“Malaki ang pagkukulang ko bilang ina. Pagod at abala ako sa pagha-hanapbuhay mula ng maging byuda ako. Hindi ko masyadong namonitor ang gawain ng panganay ko..Di naman napariwara ang mga kapatid niya. Bikod tanging siya lang ang nagkaganon.  Wala akong katuwang sa pagpapalaki sa kanila. Apat kasi silang binubuhay ko,’’ the sobbing mother added.

Borres said that he will closely monitor internet shops operating illegally in the city vowing to facilitate their closure if they continue to defy the legal orders of the city government.

He cautioned the gambling lords and protectors including some rogue policemen and barangay personnel of the illegal games to mend their ways or face the stiffest possible sanctions like fines and prison terms.

Borres said that part of the duty of being an elected government official is to enforce the law equally regardless of the proximity of the election period.

“I may lose some votes. But I have to do what is right. I cannot be held hostage by the unprincipled and shady characters of the society. I am answerable to the law-abiding citizens who put me in power,’’ Borres noted.

He said that the approaching national and local elections does not give government officials seeking re-election like him “to turn a blind eye on the unlawful acts of a few individuals’’ just to preserve once popularity and increase the chances of winning in the polls.