• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Thirty Small Town Lottery illegal collectors, known as “bookies”, who were arrested by the police in Bacolod City and Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental starting from January until present, are facing charges for violation of RA 9287, or an Act Increasing the Penalties for Illegal Numbers Games.
That is a result of the Bacolod City Police Office and Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office further intensifying their campaign against the proliferation of “bookies,” or illegal betting outlets using STL as a front.
Bookies use the same numbers drawn by ST. However, the illegal bet collectors, referred to as “riders,” oftentimes use the ID cards of STL employees and collect bets that are not remitted to the government.
Among those charged were before the Bacolod City Prosecutor’s Office were Seth Desuyo Jr., Cherry Pink Camarines, Albert Abquilan, Maria Luz Castillo, Rosie Bacaro, Mary Grace Tolentino, Tristan Montepio, Eduardo Dolfo, Ruby Ann Maghanoy, Daniel Dizon, and Patricio Delfin Jr.
A bail bond of P60,000 has been recommended by the court for the temporary release of Delfin, who was arrested on April 3 in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental.
The apprehension of Delfin yielded P3,380 in alleged cash bets, tally sheets of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, and a dilapidated STL identification card, police records showed.
Bookies is an unauthorized form of STL which poses a direct challenge to the legitimate operations of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
RA 9287, which increases penalties for illegal numbers games in the country, aims to eradicate such 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 up to 8 years, and collectors or agents may be imprisoned for 8 years and day to 10 years.
Police investigations indicate that financiers of illegal gambling are paying the recommended bail set by the court for the arrested bet solicitors, who upon being released, resume their illegal activities.
Last year, more than 100 ‘bookies’ were nabbed by BCPO and NOCPPO operatives in Negros Occidental.*
