• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The National Bureau of Investigation yesterday filed charges for violation of RA 9287, or illegal gambling, against three barangay captains they tagged as financier and protectors of illegal Small Town Lottery operations in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.
Complaints were lodged before the Kabankalan City Prosecutor’s Office yesterday, against Tangub barangay chairman Noli Villarosa of Bacolod City, tagged by the NBI as a financier of illegal STL operations, as well Joel Alibango and Franz Leonard Seguiro, Kabankalan barangay 5 and 6 captains, respectively, who are accused as protectors of illegal gambling.
NBI Bacolod chief Atty. Renoir Baldovino yesterday said the filing of charges against Villarosa, Alibango and Seguiro, a Jane Doe acting as manager of illegal STL operations, as well as a barangay tanod, were based on testimonies and sworn affidavits of arrested illegal gambling bet solicitors.
Villarosa, however, strongly denied the allegations against him, stressing that he has no capacity to be a financier, adding that he is ready to resign from his post if proven that he is involved.
Can they prove that anyone gave, or remitted money to me, from STL operations? he asked.
If invited for questioning, Villarosa said he is prepared to answer the allegations against him, as he believes that the charges filed against him are “politically motivated,” stressing also that he still has one term remaining in the upcoming barangay elections.
On February 8, Baldovino disclosed that Seguiro called a meeting with an unauthorized STL bet collectors at the Barangay 6 covered court in Kabankalan City, which was also attended by Alibango and a certain Ma’am that he tagged as the manager.
The illegal STL operations manager explained during the meeting that all bet solicitors will receive a 15 percent share from bets they collect. They were also promised to be enrolled in the Social Security System and PhilHealth, Baldovino said
The real identity of the illegal STL manager is still being established by the NBI, reportedly told the bet solicitors, that if accosted, they just say that the financier is Noli Villarosa, the NBI Bacolod chief further said.
Based on their investigations, Baldovino said that Villarosa, who also met with barangay captains of Kabankalan City in January this year, told and tried to convince them that is “okay” to operate STL in Kabankalan City, since the authority to operate issued by the Philippines Charity Sweepstakes Office to Super Lucky Beagler Inc.(SLBI), will expire February next year.
They were also promised by Villarosa shares from the STL operations, which will be conducted in every barangay of Kabankalan City, he added.
Villarosa however explained that his meeting with barangay captains in Kabankalan City had something to do with politics, to discuss creation of still unnamed partylist group.
Baldovino said that some barangay captains who attended the meeting are willing to give statements, which he added will further bolster the criminal charge against the respondents.
Baldovino said that only SLBI is allowed by PCSO to operate STL in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City.*
