AUTHORITIES confiscated five slot machines locally known as "kololong" in Barangay Pico Kilometer 5 in La Trinidad, Benguet recently.
La Trinidad Municipal Police Chief Radino Belly said the seizure of the slot machines resulted after a concerned citizen informed them that minors were playing the slot machines in a billiard hall located at Dulnuan Building in Pico near the trading post area.
The operation resulted to the arrest of Osias Wassan Dadaan who owns the billiard hall and the gambling machines.
During the operation, players of the three slot machines scampered to unknown directions when they noticed the presence of the responding authorities which also seized P1,473 gambling money.
"It was earlier reported by a concerned citizen na mayroong mga operation ng slot machines involving minors doon sa area. After confirmation we conducted an immediate operation that resulted to the confiscation of these five slot machines," Belly told Sun.Star Baguio.
Earlier last week, five individuals were also arrested by the police in another operation at the La Trinidad Trading Post while playing card game locally known as "sakla."
Items confiscated during the arrest include three decks of cards and assorted peso bills amounting to P2,796.
In August 1, La Trinidad police and operatives of the Benguet Police Provincial Office led by SPO4 Arsenio Arrojo arrested Rodolfo Hangoy Tayaban while collecting bet for "jueteng" inside Esteban Billiard Hall.
Belly said cases in violation of PD 1602 otherwise known as Revised Penal Code for Gambling were already filed against the personalities.
Eleven individuals were arrested for gambling in four separate police operations from January until August this year.
As of this writing, the La Trinidad Police Office has called on officials whether the ongoing "bingo sa barangay" in Pico has permit from the municipality.
"Hindi po natin tinotolerate ang illegal gambling dito sa La Trinidad, we will continue to do our investigations and apprehension. Minsan lang kasi talaga nalulusutan tayo especially kung nasa loob ng mga bahay at hindi naman agad nakikita unless may mag-report," Belly said.