- CHERYL G. CRUZ
The National Bureau of Investigation is looking into reports that a woman, who facilitated the establishment of a remittance center for illegal Small Town Lottery operations in Binalbagan, may have a link to the financier of Vikings Peryahan ng Bayan.
Abner Cañal, who was subpoenaed by the NBI to explain the use of his house as a remittance center for illegal gambling, yesterday said a certain Liezl from Escalante City was the one who transacted with him in renting a room for three individuals, who collect gambling bets.
Cañal said he was forced later to evict the three renters, who he identified only as Cookie, Nonoy, and Val, after they failed to present to him documents such as deed of authority or franchise from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office authorizing them to operate a betting station.
This was after Cañal discovered that they were also using “cotejos” without PCSO markings, NBI investigations show.
Cañal also told the NBI that the illegal gambling outfit originally operated in Brgy. Payao, Binalbagan, but due to insufficient income, they decided to move to the town proper and rented a room in his house.
He said they operated the betting station for four days until they were evicted on Aug. 9.
“When the NBI operatives arrived at my home (Aug 10), they already left,” Cañal said.
NBI Bacolod head Renoir Baldovino confirmed the illegal operations of Vikings Peryahan ng Bayan under the guise of STL operations in Bacolod City, as well as in Binalbagan and Sipalay City.
He said that the cooperation of the owners of a house and a building in Binalbagan and Sipalay City that were used as remittance centers for illegal gambling, will help them in getting more evidences against the group of financiers, whom he did not identify.
The penalty for financiers of illegal gambling is much heavier, compared to the persons engaged in illegal gambling.
Baldovino clarified that the Super Lucky Beagler Inc. is the only outfit authorized by the PCSO to operate STL in Negros Occidental.
Last week, a betting station of Vikings Peryahan ng Bayan was raided by NBI operatives at the Libertad Public Market in Bacolod City, leading to the arrest of two persons who managed to immediately post bail of P162,000 and were released from the NBI custodial facility Aug. 6.
Under Republic Act 9287, or An Act Increasing the Penalties for Illegal Numbers Games, Amending Certain Provisions of Presidential Decree No. 1602, and for other purposes, Baldovino said anyone involved in the operations of illegal STL, including arrested bettors, who are convicted for such an offense, will be imprisoned from 30 to 90 days.
The staff or owner of the lot or building may face six to eight years of imprisonment; eight to 10 years for bet solicitors; 10 to 12 years for coordinator and supervisor; 12 to 14 years for the maintainer, manager and operator; 14 to 16 years for financiers; and 16 to 20 years for protectors, as well as perpetual disqualification from holding public office for those in the government, he added.
The three illegal betting stations of Vikings Peryahan ng Bayan reportedly started operations early this month./GB
