• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The police have filed charges against 18 “bookies” collectors for violation of Republic Act (RA) 9287 or illegal gambling in Negros Occidental.
Bookies is an illegal numbers game that uses winning numbers from Small Town Lottery (STL) draws of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
The 18 respondents were arrested in separate operations in the municipalities of Candoni, San Enrique, E. B. Magalona and Cauayan as well as cities of Escalante, Bago, La Carlota, Sipalay and Victorias in the past several months.
Police also recovered P8,586 in cash bets, PCSO tally sheets, Super Lucky Beagler Inc. identification cards, among other items.
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 providing protection for witnesses and incentives for law enforcement officers.
Bettors may be imprisoned for 30 to 90 days while personnel or staff of illegal numbers game operations face imprisonment for six to eight years, and collectors or agents may be imprisoned for eight years and a day to 10 years.
PBrig. Gen. Jack Wanky, police regional director of Western Visayas, has vowed to maintain relentless efforts against illegal gambling activities.
Wanky urged all police commanders in Western Visayas to intensify their enforcement campaigns.
“Those who operate illegally should be continually subject to law enforcement operations,” he added.
The Philippine National Police and the PCSO have partnered to intensify the campaign against illegal gambling activities nationwide by enforcing the “one strike and no-take policy.”
In Negros Occidental, the widespread operations of “bookies” has been the subject of complaints by the PCSO. | GB
