FOLLOWING information about their alleged illegal operations of Small Town Lottery (STL), the operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)-Bacolod City raided two betting stations in Sipalay City and Binalbagan town, Negros Occidental Wednesday, August 10, 2022.
But NBI-Bacolod head lawyer Renoir Baldovino said Thursday, August 11, that the establishments reportedly operated by the Vikings Peryahan ng Bayan were already closed when they arrived.
“They might have temporarily closed but will operate again,” Baldovino said, adding that they were supposed to arrest the individuals involved in the illegal operations.
He said that they conducted a test bet on August 6 and a surveillance on August 8 upon receiving information about the illegal STL operations of these establishments.
Baldovino noted that based on the information they received, the lottery is done on Facebook.
In Negros Occidental, including Bacolod City, only the Super Lucky Beagler Inc. (SLBI) is authorized by the Philippine Charity Sweepstake Office (PSCO) to operate STL.
“If there are other operators, they are illegal and imprisonment awaits those who are involved,” Baldovino warned.
Under Republic Act 9287, bettors of illegal gambling operators may be detained for 30 to 90 days while the personnel, staff and the owner of the building or the lot where the illegal betting is conducted may face six to eight years imprisonment.
The law also states that eight to 10 years imprisonment may be meted to bet collectors of illegal gambling operations, 10 to 12 years imprisonment for coordinators and supervisors, while the operator may face more than 12 years of imprisonment.
As to the financiers and protectors, they may face 14 to 16 years and 16 to 29 years imprisonment, respectively, Baldovino said.
He said that public officials found to be involved may be perpetually disqualified from running in the elections.
Meanwhile, NBI-Bacolod will conduct an in-depth investigation if the lot and building owners of these betting stations, whom they have already identified along with the operators, are connected with influential personalities in the province.
The NBI issued subpoenas to them Thursday so they could also air out their side regarding the matter.
The agency will monitor other areas in Negros Occidental if there are also other illegal STL operations, it said.