TWO persons, including a senior citizen, were nabbed after they were caught in the act of engaging in an illegal numbers game in Barangay Lagtang, Talisay City last Friday afternoon, Aug. 2, 2019.
Operatives of the Cebu Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) arrested Segundino Sarmento, 60 ,and Joey Ababon, 48.
Lt. Col. Marlu Conag, PIB chief, said the two men were arrested around 2:30 p.m.
A concerned citizen allegedly provided police with a tip about the two men’s operations.
Conag said they caught Ababon issuing a ticket stub to an unidentified male bettor who was able to evade arrest.
Sarmento, who was Ababon’s alleged coordinator, was also caught by police carrying tally sheets containing the bets of their customers.
Recovered from Ababon were illegal gambling paraphernalia, including a pen and bet cash money amounting P316.
Sarmento also yielded a notebook containing tally sheets, four sheets of white pad paper bearing names of various Small Town Lottery (STL) remittances and bet money of P1,020.
They will face charges for violating Republic Act 9287, or the Act Increasing Penalties against Illegal Numbers Games.
Some gambling games like STL and Peryahan ng Bayan organized by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) were considered illegal after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered its immediate stoppage due to alleged “massive” corruption in the agency.
The PCSO is a government-owned and -controlled corporation under the Office of the President. It is mandated to raise and provide funds for health programs, including medical assistance and other services. (WBS)