FIFTY-FOUR persons were arrested for their alleged participation in the illegal numbers game in Cebu City on Monday night, Dec. 16, 2019.

The anti-illegal gambling operations were made following the order of Police Regional Office 7 Director Valeriano de Leon, who threatened to relieve station commanders if they fail to perform well.

De Leon, before he issued his directive, had received a complaint from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) about the presence of illegal small town lottery (STL) booths in Cebu City.

The illegal STL operations hurt the legal STL operators and the government’s income.

P/Lt. Col. Clark Arriola, Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) information officer, said they have always been conducting anti-illegal gambling operations.

Since Dec. 14, Arriola said, different CCPO units have been conducting more than 30 operations against illegal STL operators.

Among the 11 police stations under the CCPO, Labangon and Talamban police stations scored the most against illegal gambling—each station was able to arrest 24 persons who accepted bets.

The PCSO authorized Globaltech as the sole STL operator in Cebu City.

Arriola urged bettors to patronize the legal STL booths. He said there is a possibility that the illegal operators would not give the prize money to winning bettors.

“If they choose the legal operator, they can help our National Government,” he said.

Arriola said the CCPO has been conducting non-stop the anti-illegal gambling campaign even before de Leon issued his order.

The CCPO, he said, conducts a weekly assessment of its station commanders’ performance against illegal gambling and drug trafficking. (AYB, KAL)