• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Policemen have arrested 16 “bookies” collectors, who were already charged in court for illegal gambling, in Negros Occidental.
Bookies is an illegal numbers game that uses winning numbers from the Small Town Lottery (STL) draws of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
Based on records of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, the arrested bet solicitors were identified as Rodrigo Garche, Ramil Serapida, Julianito Excija Jr., and Gerardo Formosa, all 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 16 bet solicitors yielded P8,365 in alleged cash bets.
Republic Act 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 providing incentives for law enforcement officers.
Collectors or agents may be imprisoned for eight years and a day to 10 years, while personnel or staff of illegal numbers game operations face imprisonment for six years and a day to eight years, and collectors or agents may be imprisoned for eight years and a day to 10 years.
Police investigation indicated that financiers of illegal gambling are paying the recommended bail set by the court for the arrested bet solicitors, who would then resume their illegal activities.
Negros Occidental Gov. 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., which is authorized by the PCSO to operate STL in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City, has already expired.
PCSO also uncovered modus operandi, where legitimate STL bet solicitors did not remit their collections to agencies given franchised by the operating STL, but to financiers of illegal gambling.
It also received reports on alleged involvement of some local government officials and their relatives in illegal gambling. | GB
