By Jennifer P. Rendon
Illegal gambling operations were noted in some parts of Iloilo province. But no, they are far from being considered as rampant, the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) said.
“This illegal gambling is done through guerilla operations and were reported in some towns in the fourth and fifth districts of the province,” Colonel Gilbert Gorero, Iloilo police chief, said. But Gorero assured that all reported illegal numbers game operations, even those deemed as petty such as mahjong and tong-its, are being acted upon by the police.
“Our police officers were constantly told to also heighten its campaign against illegal gambling and arrest violators,” Gorero said.
In fact, in December 2020, Iloilo police units conducted seven operations against Small Town Lottery (STL) bookies that led to the arrest of seven persons. Three of these operations happened in San Dionisio while two each were in Barotac Viejo and Estancia.
The police anti-illegal gambling operations did not stop there. Six illegal cockfighting operations were also conducted wherein 28 persons were arrested. Ten persons were arrested for playing cards in two police operations while 14 others were collared for participating in other forms of illegal gambling. Gorero said they were able to file 22 cases against the suspects.
Recently, Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. has called on the IPPO leadership to run after illegal gambling operations in the province. On January 5, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Iloilo field unit, IPPO Provincial Intelligence Unit, and Banate Police Station arrested a 58-year-old man over an illegal gambling offense.
Rey Espinosa, a resident of Barangay Carmelo, Banate, was arrested for soliciting bets for an illegal numbers game at Barangay Poblacion. The suspect is now detained and will be charged for violation of Republic Act 9287.
