• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Unscrupulous individuals are taking advantage of being employed by a firm accredited by the government to operate the Small Town Lottery, and are using STL results in illegal gambling operations.
Furthermore, they are also using unauthorized bet collectors that pocket the bets, according to initial investigations of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
In a sworn affidavit, a copy of which was furnished to the media, James Amparado disclosed that he was arrested on June 15 by members of the Provincial Intelligence Unit of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, in Barangay San Vicente, Binalbagan, for collecting STL bets, although he was not unauthorized to do so.
Amparado admitted that since 2022, he has remitted his collections to a certain Annaliza Ledesma, alias Daku, at the STL outlet located at 3rd Street in Brgy. Progreso, Binalbagan.
Similar modus operandi has been monitored by the PCSO, wherein legitimate STL bet solicitors do not remit their collections to the agencies given a franchise to operate STL, but instead to illegal gambling financiers.
PCSO also got information that financiers of illegal gambling are paying the recommended bail for the arrested bet solicitors set by the court, who then resume their illegal activities.
Based on information provided by arrested illegal bet solicitors, the Philippine National Police is closely monitoring financiers of illegal gambling.
Over the past three months, police have arrested for 16 suspects in Negros Occidental, for collecting STL bets without authority from Super Lucky Beagler Incorporated (SLBI).
PCSO has designated SLBI as the STL Authorized Agent Corporation in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City.
Nabbed for violation of RA 9287,or illegal gambling were Gualberto Agwanta and Julieto Crastein San Carlos City; while arrested in Binalbagan were Jonathan Santiniaman and Lilibeth Borbon, Michael Geva, Christian Cruz, and James Pajarillo;
Rodrigo Garche in Escalante City, Restituto Wasawas in Calatrava, Andres Rebonsa in Isabela, Renante Pille in Himamaylan City, Razel Garcia in Toboso, Jomarie Lozada in Candoni, Necol Jay Tagonesa in Sipalay City, Perla Beloan in E.B. Magalona, and Antonio Losocon in Hinobaan, all in Negros Occidental.
The apprehension of the suspects also yielded expired STL identification cards, STL tally sheets, and cash bets of P5,413, according to reports of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office.
Police earlier filed charges against 18 “bookies” collectors for violation of Republic Act 9287, or illegal gambling, in Negros Occidental, as the heightened campaign against all forms of illegal gambling was ordered by Brig. Gen. Jack Wanky, regional police director of Western Visayas.
“Bookies” is an illegal numbers game that uses winning numbers from the STL draws of the PCSO. 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.
Wanky ordered all police commanders in Western Visayas to intensify their enforcement campaigns.
“Those who operate illegally should be continually subject to law enforcement operations,” he stressed. The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the PCSO have partnered to intensify the campaign against illegal gambling activities nationwide by enforcing a “one strike and no-take policy.”*
