FIVE people will face criminal complaints before the Office of the Cebu City Prosecutor for their involvement in illegal gambling operations on M.J. Cuenco Ave., Cebu City.
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 7 arrested the five while they were playing poker and mahjong inside a rented room last Jan. 15.
They are Jermelyn Canares of Barangay Nivel Hills; Wilfredo Alvarado of Barangay Tejero; Victor Rabor of Barangay Tangke, Naga City; Windy Basalo of Barangay Labangon, Cebu City; and Bernard de los Reyes of Barangay Tejero, Cebu City.
CIDG operatives from the cities of Lapu-Lapu and Cebu served the search warrant on the suspects inside a rented room on M.J. Cuenco Ave.
The search warrant, issued by Judge Macaundas Hadjirasul last Jan.11, cited possible violations of Presidential Decree 1602 as amended by Republic Act 9287, or operating a gambling den without authority from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor).
The suspects’ place is operating off-site poker and mahjong games without license and does not have a permit or license to operate such activities from Pagcor. Authorities seized from the suspects several gambling paraphernalia, such as an electronic mahjong machine, bet money, gambling chips, and office furniture. Chief Insp. Hector Amancia, CIDG 7 officer-in-charge, is set to file the criminal complaints against the five before the City Prosecutor’s Office. (GMD)