By Felipe V. Celino
ROXAS CITY, Capiz – Three individuals were arrested Wednesday afternoon for soliciting bets for illegal gambling in Barangay Poblacion Tabuc, Maayon, Capiz.
Police identified the suspects as alias Boy, 56, and Inday, 51, both from the village, and alias Neneng, 54, of Barangay Sinabsaban, Cuartero.
An investigation by the Maayon Municipal Police Station indicated that while conducting an anti-illegal gambling operation, they caught the suspects soliciting bets for “Pick 2.”
Recovered from the suspects were receipts with number combinations, P50 in bet money, P9,825 in bet collections, an improvised cotejo, a sling bag, a stub of unofficial cotejo, and a motorcycle.
“With the recent arrests, it is clear that illegal gambling persists in Capiz,” said Police Colonel Jerome Afuyog Jr., Capiz police director, in a media interview on Wednesday.
Afuyog stated that the police would intensify operations against illegal activities in Capiz.
Last Monday, May 27, a laborer was arrested for soliciting bets for “Pick 2” in Barangay Duyoc, Dao, Capiz.
The suspect, identified as Arnel Barona, 32, was found with a receipt, an improvised cotejo with number combinations, P102 in cash, a ballpen, and a motorcycle. He is currently under the custody of the Dao Municipal Police Station.
Earlier last week, another individual was arrested for soliciting bets for “Pick 2” in Maayon. The suspect is seeking bail after being abandoned by the alleged financier of the illegal operation.
On Saturday, May 25, a man complained to a gambling coordinator after not receiving his winning prize.
Pepito, from Barangay Natividad, Pilar, said he stopped soliciting bets for “Pick 3” or “bookies” illegal gambling after a client failed to receive a P16,000 prize. The financier of the “bookies” operation is currently missing.
“Bookies” is an illegal numbers game that uses winning numbers from small-town lottery (STL) draws of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
