• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Policemen arrested 16 more “bookies” collectors, who were charged in court for violation of RA 9287, or illegal gambling, in Negros Occidental, in line with their campaign against all forms of such activities.
Bookies is an illegal numbers game that uses the winning numbers from Small Town Lottery (STL) draws of the PCSO.
Based on records of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, the arrested bet solicitors were Rodrigo Garche, Ramil Serapida, Julianito Excija Jr., and Gerardo Formosa, of Escalante City; Ma. Antonia Zapanta, Joelito Gentizo, and Ronel Espartero of La Castellana;
Vicente Apurado and Vivencia Librando of Calatrava; Ramil Elauria and Joven Esparagoza of Isabela; Michael Geva of Binalbagan, Julieto Criste of San Carlos City, Theresa Vergara of San Enrique; and Melanie Mariano of Hinigaran.
The arrest of the 16 bet solicitors yielded P8365 in alleged cash bets.
RA 9287, which increases penalties for illegal numbers games in the country, aims to eradicate these activities and punish those involved, including bettors, personnel, and government officials, while also protecting witnesses and incentives for law enforcement officers.
Collectors or agents may be imprisoned for 8 years and day to 10 years, while personnel or staff of illegal numbers game operations face imprisonment for 6 years and to 8 years, and collectors or agents may be imprisoned for 8 years and day to 10 years.
Police investigations indicated that financiers of illegal gambling are paying the recommended bail set by the court, for the arrested bet solicitors, who then resume their illegal activities.
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson earlier discouraged Negrenses from supporting illegal STL operations, following a disinformation campaign being spread that the permit to operate of the Super Lucky Beagler, Inc. (SLBI), which is authorized by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office to operate STL in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City, has already expired.
PCSO also uncovered a modus operandi where legitimate STL bet solicitors do not remit their collections to agencies given a franchise by the operating STL, but instead to financiers of illegal gambling.
It also received reports on the alleged involvement of some local government officials and their relatives in illegal gambling.*