By Jennifer P. Rendon
Two men were arrested after they were caught playing basketball late afternoon of Aug 8, 2020 in Lambunao, Iloilo.
Jeric Berja, 18, of Barangay Dalid, Calinog, Iloilo, and Christer Parcon, 23, of Barangay Maribong, Lambunao were arrested while playing a one-on-one basketball game around 5 pm Saturday at Patag village.
Police Major Jogen Suegay, Lambunao police chief, said they collared the duo after one of them was caught handing out P1,000 to the winner.
“It constitutes illegal gambling under Presidential Decree 1602,” Suegay said.
PD 1602 is the law “Providing Stiffer Penalties on Illegal Gambling.”
But Suegay said they are also exploring the idea if they could charge the duo for violating Republic Act 11332 (Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act) or RA 11469 (Bayanihan to Heal as One Act).
Earlier that day, police received reports of an impending basketball game at Patag.
Suegay said they informed the village officials about it in a bid to warn residents not to push through with the game to avoid the convergence of many people, which violates health protocols like physical distancing.
But they later learned that residents went on to gather and watched the game.
Suegay said they were not able to arrest spectators as they fled upon seeing the police officers.
Berja and Parcon are now detained pending the filing of appropriate charges against them.
(Photo Courtesy of shutterstock)
