GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The house of the sister of Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao was raided by the authorities in General Santos City for suspicion of illegal gambling activity.

Raided was the residence of Isidra Pacquiao-Paglinawan, older sister of Pacquiao. The subject was, however, not in the house when police operatives arrived.

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At least 10 people suspected to be ushers of "Last Two" were arrested along with several gambling paraphernalia and cash.

Representative Pacquiao, who arrived in the area just as the authorities were conducting the raid, was meanwhile surprised by the incident.

In a television interview, the boxing champ said if proven by court that his sister is indeed involved in the illegal activity then he will not tolerate her misdeeds.

"Kung may kasalanan sya dito eh di parusahan. Ganun naman ako, walang pinipili," Pacquiao said.

Rumors on the involvement of the Pacquiaos in the illegal gambling activity in General Santos City and Sarangani have been going around for some time now.

Unconfirmed reports have it that Pacquiao's brother and Apopong barangay chief Roel Pacquiao is the one handling the illegal gambling activity in the said areas.

Several "outlets" were said to have been maintained by the Pacquiaos and is said to be raking in at least P1.5 million a day in earnings.

Back when Pacquiao was training in the United States for his fight with Ghana's Joshua Clottey last March, the earnings from the illegal gambling activity were allegedly used to fund Pacquiao's campaign for the congressional race in Sarangani.

The issue of Pacquiao's involvement in illegal gambling cropped up as authorities intensified the hunt for illegal gambling operators.

Intelligence operatives said some police officials are receiving millions of pesos in protection fees from big time gambling lords.

Some high-ranking officials in the region are allegedly getting about P500,000 per week while lower ranked police officials get a weekly stipend of P50,000.

Police authorities, however, denied the allegations.

The organized crime group headed by Rex Salud operating in Cebu was said to be helping the Pacquiaos in running their illegal gambling business.

A report by the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC) about organized crime in the Philippines identified the Rex "Wacky" Salud Group with 30 members operating in Cebu as being engaged in illegal gambling. The said report was presented by the PCTC in a gathering in Tokyo, Japan on January 2003. (Ben O. Tesiorna)