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[av_heading heading=’ NO MORE BOOKIES? Police chiefs claim wiping out illegal gambling but… ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY RUBY P. SILUBRICO
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ILOILO – After 15 days of anti-illegal gambling operations, municipal police chiefs claimed to have cleared their areas of illegal numbers games such as bookies.
“But we need to revalidate the claims,” said Senior Superintendent Marlon Tayaba, director of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO).
Iloilo is made up of 42 towns and one component city.
The Small Town Lottery (STL) franchisee in the province has so far recognized six towns as already free from illegal gambling – Maasin, Cabatuan, Ajuy, Pototan, Zarraga, and Santa Barbara.
Eagle Crest Gaming and Holding Corp. had been complaining that illegal numbers games such as “bookies” were competing with its legal STL operations. Tayaba then gave police chiefs 15 days (from July 24 to Aug. 7) to wipe out illegal gambling in their respective areas.
“We are thankful to the police,” said Samuel Aguilar, chief operating officer of Eagle Crest Gaming and Holding Corp.
Tayaba, however, remained cautious.
“Most of the police chiefs declared their areas gambling-free but we need to revalidate and reassess. Alam naman natin ang ibang illegal numbers games bet collectors kapag may opportunity babalik ‘yan,” said Tayaba.
The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office expanded the operation of STL nationwide to help the government’s anti-illegal gambling drive.
The government has a share from STL’s proceeds.
To give the police ample time to operate against illegal gambling, specifically in the municipalities of Carles, Batad, Estancia, Balasan, and San Rafael, all in northern Iloilo, Eagle Crest suspended indefinitely its STL operations in these areas.
“We continue to monitor the situation and conduct anti-illegal gambling operations,” said Tayaba.
He previously warned his police chiefs those who would fail to crush illegal gambling in their areas would be relieved from their posts.
Citing police intelligence information, Tayaba said there were six illegal gambling financiers in the province – a former mayor in the 4th District, town councilors one of whom was from the 2nd District, a former member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and barangay officials./PN
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