139 illegal gambling bet collectors caught

ILOILO – From Jan. 1 to July 14 this year, the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) arrested 139 bet collectors of the illegal numbers game “bookies.”

Most of the arrests were carried out in northern Iloilo, “especially in the 5th District,” according to Senior Superintendent Marlon Tayaba, IPPO director.

At nine each, the municipalities of Banate and Barotac Nuevo had the most number of arrests.

Passi City and the town of Lemery each had eight arrests.

Tayaba said policemen made more arrests beginning May after the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office cancelled the franchise of its Small Town Lottery (STL) operator in the province, Eagle-Crest Gaming and Holding Corp., for failing to pay the Presumptive Monthly Retail Receipts.

“We are doing our best to address the problem but some bet collectors are operating in mountainous and rebels-infested areas. Nahihirapan ang ating mga tao mag-operate sa bundok,” said Tayaba.

Tayaba acknowledged that STL somehow eased the illegal gambling problem in Iloilo. He was hopeful that PCSO would be allowing another franchisee to operate STL in the province.

“Kung meron mang papalit, better. At least may katulong na mag-combat ng illegal gambling,” he said.

Eagle-Crest held its last STL draw on May 9, 2018.

A source told Panay News two former members of the Philippine National Police, a retired Philippine Army official and a former rebel were the financiers of “bookies” in this province. They tapped the displaced bet collectors of Eagle-Crest.

The former rebel operated “bookies” in the 2nd District, specifically in the municipalities of Santa Barbara, Leon, Alimodian, and San Miguel.

On the other hand, one of the two former policemen operated in the 4th District.

“He had the rank of superintendent while still in the police service and was a cousin of a municipal mayor in the district,” the source told Panay News.

The other former policeman operated “bookies” in the 5th District in partnership with a retired Army colonel.

“The policeman was a cousin of a former municipal mayor in the 5th District,” according to the source. /PN

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