By Jennifer P. Rendon
Funeral wakes can only be held for a maximum of 3 days while Iloilo City is under the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) status.
On top of that, gambling is also prohibited at wakes.
But a wake in La Paz district did not only breach the 3-week mark but also gathered several persons for gambling sessions.
This prompted members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group 6 (CIDG-6), together with Iloilo City Police Station 2, to barge into a wake at Zone 5, Barangay Ingore, La Paz around 6:30 p.m. on June 24.
The operatives nabbed 23 persons for illegal gambling.
Colonel Gervacio Balmaceda, CIDG-6 regional director, said three were caught playing tong-its, four playing mahjong, and 16 in a Bingo game.
Balmaceda said they conducted surveillance in the area prior to Thursday’s operation.
Caught for playing mahjong were Rey Jamandre, 47; Arleen Herva, 58; Soles Almarsa, 59; and Lonie Jamandre, 63.
Confiscated from them was a mahjong set and P3,090 bet money
The arrested tong-its players were identified as Cresel Hortillosa, 51; Florenzo Guzman, 68; and Elsa Macatuhay, 67. A set of playing cards and P645 bet money were seized from their possession,
Meanwhile, arrested for playing bingo were Pearly May Parcon, 27; Analee Parcon, 48; Aruba Capiral, 38; Mila Galve, 47; Gemma Jadulos, 34; Nilda Jacosalem, 70; Catherine Adorio, 47; Mary Heguira, 40; Analie Pabulayan, 32; Jasmin Janiva, 49; Lolita Villegas, 38; Jeneville Jayona, 28; Evelyn Barrientos, 58; Jo Ann Valentino, 37; Norma Gatin, 46; and Josefina Padios, 70.
Police recovered a set of bingo cards, chips, bottle, and P540 cash bet.
The suspects are detained and would be charged for violation of Presidential Decree 1602 (Providing Stiffer Penalties on Illegal Gambling) and Republic Act 11469 (Bayanihan to Heal as One Act).
The family claimed that the wake started May 31, 2021 but the interment has yet to be scheduled because they are still processing some documents and they have yet to secure the death certificate from the hospital.
