DESPITE the health scare of the coronavirus disease (Covid–19), arrests of illegal gambling continued in simultaneous police operations in the Cordillera region.
Police apprehended 10 people who engaged in illegal gambling in Baguio, eight in Abra, and one in Benguet all for illegal cockfighting, bookies, tupada and collecting of bets.
In Abra, eight individuals were separately arrested while in the act of playing card games and cockfighting in the afternoon of March 13, 2020.
The gamblers were identified as Erwin Belarmino, 39; Rogie Queza, 45; Armando Samson, 41; Rogelio Alcantara, 61; Nora Baniago, 48; and Juvelene Castillo, 32, who were caught inside a house in Arellano St., Zone 3, Bangued, Abra while in the act of playing card games.
Police confiscated two sets of playing cards and bet money amounting to P1,900.
Meanwhile, Charlie Sequerra Ayco, 32; and Marnold Castillo Rafal, 35; were apprehended while in the act of playing cockfighting in Sitio Pudok, Barangay Cabuloan, Bangued, Abra of the same day as police operatives recovered two fighting cocks and P790 bet money as evidence.
In Baguio City, 10 individuals were caught by the police as bettors identified as Donald Racraven Busto, Jose Pat-ongay Wasian, Virgilio Delfin Acosta, Emmanuel Rustia Sambajon, June Lamsis Rufino, Cesar Delfin, Denver Damaso Dalisdis, Kurt Carbonel Tabon, Rufo Isiah Kiwas Binay-an, and Lester Wadas Bangcawayan who were caught in Amsing, Pacdal in the afternoon of March 14, arrested after a concerned citizen informed police of the ongoing “tupada” which resulted in the confiscation of four live fighting cocks, one dead fighting cock, one guffle and five helmets.
On the afternoon of the same day, a bet collector identified as Pedro Salongan Patras was held for collecting bet money in Palina, Tuba, Benguet followed by the confiscation from his possession of cash money amounting to P225 and other assorted gambling paraphernalia.
All arrested individuals were charged for violation of Presidential Decree 1602 known as illegal gambling.