Illegal gambling ‘big fish’ caught

OPERATIVES from the City Intelligence Branch (CIB) of the Cebu City Police Office, armed with a search warrant, stormed the house of Edgar Lim, an alleged swertres financier, on Friday night.

Lim lived in Limkaking Compound, General Maxilom Ave., Cebu City.

CIB Chief Romeo Santander said Lim is the second in the target list of illegal gambling financiers operating for years. Swertres is an illegal numbers game.

“As per validation, he (Lim) is operating through networks in several towns in Cebu province with well-structured coordinators particularly operating in the city,” Santander said.

Allegedly, Lim is earning about P800,000 to a million pesos per day in his illegal business.

Seized from Lim’s house were paraphernalia, such as tally sheets, tip sheets, photocopiers, nine fax machines and calculators. 

However, the police did not recover any amount believed to be proceeds of the business.

Workers arrested

Some 23 workers of Lim were also nabbed inside his house during the police operation, including a minor.

Seventeen-year-old Romy (not his real name), who was teary-eyed, told Sun.Star Cebu it was his first day to work for Lim and all he wanted was to help his family.

Meanwhile, Lim admitted getting into the business for a period of time, but stopped when he heard police operations against illegal gambling were intensified.

Business only resumed last Feb. 1.

He said, “I know it is illegal, but in this way, I was able to help many people feed their families.”

During the search, a 9mm pistol and a 357 revolver were also recovered underneath Lim’s sofa. 

He, however, denied owning the gun.

“Dili to ako, basin sa ako trabahante o kaha iya sa usa sa mga pulis (It wasn’t mine, maybe a worker owns it or perhaps the police),” he said.

Detained

After the operation, Lim and his workers were brought to Camp Sotero Cabahug.

Charges of violation of Republic Act 9287, also known as illegal gambling, will be filed against the 23 workers, including the financier

Today, while a separate charge for illegal possession of firearms will also be filed against Edgar Lim.

Santander believes that with the arrest of Lim, “swertres” or numbers game operation in Cebu province will be crippled.

The operation according to Santander is in response to PRO 7 regional director’s order to intensify a region-wide crackdown against illegal gambling activities.