By Felipe V. Celino
ROXAS CITY, Capiz – Amid the festivities of Capiztahan 2024, police apprehended two wanted individuals in separate operations on Saturday, April 20.
Officers from the Roxas Component City Police Station executed the arrest warrant for a 20-year-old beautician known as Michael from Sitio Bliss, Barangay Cagay, Roxas City.
Charged with slander by deed, his warrant was issued by Judge Kathleen G. Delantar of Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) Branch 2, Roxas City, on April 17, 2024.
The court set his bail at P18,000 for temporary release, which he posted to secure his release from Roxas City PNP custody.
In a concurrent operation, Cuartero police detained another suspect, alias Mel, 30, from Barangay Putian, Cuartero, Capiz.
Accused of estafa, Mel’s bail was set at P18,000 for temporary liberty, following a warrant issued by Judge Radney Reginaldo Garcia of MTCC Branch 7, Iloilo City, on March 7, 2024.
Mel is currently held at the Cuartero Municipal Police Station awaiting further proceedings.
Five charged for illegal gambling
Meanwhile, police have charged five individuals with illegal gambling following their arrest on the night of April 18 in Barangay Lagdungan, Tapaz, Capiz.
The accused, known by the aliases “Kim”, a 30-year-old driver; “Berly”, 36; “Eric”, 30; “Cyrill”, a 32-year-old technician, all from the same village; and “Efrain”, a 48-year-old fish vendor from Barangay San Francisco, also in Tapaz, were charged with violating PD 1602, the Anti-illegal Gambling Law.
A tip from a concerned citizen led the police to the suspects who were engaged in gambling at a local wake.
Caught playing the coin-tossing game cara y cruz, also known as “tumbo”, at approximately 11:30 p.m., the suspects were found with P1,460 in various denominations, a pack of chalk, a concrete table, and three coins used for the game.
Following the arrests, the suspects have been detained at the Tapaz Police Station pending further legal action.