Tuesday, November 27, 2007 Newly elected village chief sued
POLICE have filed charges against a newly elected barangay chairman in Koronadal City and seven other persons for alleged involvement in illegal gambling activities in the area.
Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Provincial Chief Henry Dazo said they endorsed the complaint against Barangay Morales chief Raul Aloot for violation of Republic Act 9287 at the City Prosecutor's Office last Monday.
Dazo said Aloot specifically violated Section 3, Paragraph B of RA 9287 or for allowing "his vehicle, house, building or land to be used in the operation of the illegal numbers games."
"He (Aloot) allowed the use of his waiting shed for the operations of last two and first two (illegal numbers games)," he said.
Aloot has refused to issue any comment on the matter saying he will just answer the charges against him "in a proper forum."
The last two and first two games were based on the last two and first two digits of the daily lottery draw results of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
The bettors may win pot cash if they correctly bet on the first two or last two digits of the winning lottery numbers.
Last Friday, CIDG operatives arrested at least 10 alleged illegal gambling couriers or personnel in a raid at the Aloot compound in Barangay Morales.
The 10 illegal gambling couriers were reportedly remitting their daily collections when accosted by CIDG operatives.
Police recovered alleged bet money amounting to P53,198.75, one unit of service calculator, three ballpens, 83 pieces of tally sheets, one pentel pen and five Nokia-brand cellphones used by the illegal gambling couriers.
Aside from Aloot, the CIDG also endorsed the filing of charges against a certain Jos Benny Abayon and six others for allegedly acting as "personnel or staff of an illegal numbers game operation."
Aloot and his co-accused may face imprisonment for six to eight years if found guilty. (Allen V. Estabillo)
