By Jennifer P. Rendon
The Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) has been arresting anti-illegal gambling law violators in the past several days, thanks to nosy and noisy residents.
Colonel Uldarico Garbanzos, Iloilo City police chief, attributed the series of crackdowns on illegal gambling activities to information relayed by residents to authorities.
“We have strengthened our campaign against illegal gambling because it’s one way to spread the COVID-19 virus,” Garbanzos said citing, that “pauwak” or illegal cockfights are violations of mass gathering as social distancing could not also be practiced.
This goes true with card games and other forms of gambling where players sit near each other.
“So far, our coordination with the barangay to curb these activities has been effective,” Garbanzos.
On Thursday alone, ICPO units conducted four separate anti-illegal gambling operations in the metropolis.
Members of La Paz Police Station arrested two persons for playing tong-its at Bo. Obrero Lapuz district.
Major Jose Val Ladublan, La Paz police chief, identified the suspects as Christopher Subibi, 25, and Alcon Alcain, 27, both residents of Zone 3, Bo. Obrero, Lapuz.
Their other companion escaped.
The team of Captain Eduardo Siacon, Jr., Jaro police chief, also arrested four persons for playing mahjong at Barangay Fajardo, Jaro.
Arrested were Jocelyn Villalobos, 33; Remedios Ladrido, 55; April Lyn Opial, 39; and Helen Garbino, 50, all residents of the said place,
Except for Ladrido who is a businesswoman, all three women worked as nannies.
In Molo district, six persons were arrested for playing cara y cruz, or locally known as tombô.
Members of Molo Police Station arrested the suspects at Barangay Boulevard, Molo.
All twelve suspects will be charged for violation of Presidential Decree 1602.
Meanwhile, nine persons were also arrested for engaging in an illegal cockfighting activity at Barangay Cubay, Jaro.
Jaro Police Station and ICPO intelligence operatives arrested Romy Edroso, 44, Rafael Aguilo, 47, Giovannie Bonilla, 42, all residents of Cubay village; and Noel Helidia, 37, native of Nueva Valencia, Guimaras.
Also apprehended were Jayson Bryan Calawigan, 25, of Barangay Jereos, La Paz; Felix Vila, 49 of Barangay Balabago, Jaro; Ernesto Lajera, 26, Francis Plandis, 18, and Nelson Ampig, 58, all residents of Barangay San Pedro, Jaro.
The suspects will be charged for violation of Presidential Decree 449 (Cockfighting Law of 1974).
Amid this series of arrests, Garbanzos said the ICPO will continue to intensify its operation on illegal gambling activities in Iloilo City.
Alongside the arrest of violators is the implementation of the “No Take Policy or One Strike Policy of the PNP.”
He also urged the public to report any illegal gambling activities in their area to the PNP.