ILOILO City – The enhanced community quarantine could drive economically-displaced people to play games of chance for money.
The Iloilo City Police office (ICPO) is wary of a surge in illegal gambling activities.
Seventeen people were arrested for illegal gambling here in five police operations from March 20 to 30, ICPO data showed.
In the same period last year, the city police carried out only one anti-illegal gambling operation, said Police Captain Shella Mae Sangrines, city police office information officer.
The quarantine is being imposed to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The very limited movement of people and unavailability of public transport have forced many public and private businesses and offices to temporarily shut down, leaving people out of work and income-less.
The five recent anti-illegal gambling police operations were conducted in the City Proper and Jaro district.
On March 29 the following persons were arrested in Barangay Tanza Timawa, City Proper for “pusoy”: Rodolfo Cuambot, 30, and relatives, Ronil Cuambot, 30; Joey Carbaquil, 35; Joebert Carbaquil, all of Barangay Washington, Escalante City, Negros Occidental; Oliver Cuambot, 28, of Sigma, Capiz; Bonifacio Jaspe, 31, of Cadiz City, Negros Occidental; Ronel Faigones, 18, of Barangay Tigmarabo, Miag-ao, Iloilo; and RJ Labrador, 32, of Perasol Street, Binagawan, Iloilo.
Also arrested on March 29 for “pusoy” but in Barangay Rizal Pala-Pala were Marvin Ilastron, 36; Remando Avilla, 55; Allan Arcones, 50; Carlos Nacaase, 42, of Barangay Tanza Timawa, Zone II, City Proper; and Joem Palomo for illegal cock derby.
On March 23, the following were caught in Barangay Quintin Salas, Jaro: Mary Cris Sara, 29; Brixo Liboon, 59; and Victor Villarin, 47, all of Barangay MV Hechanova, Jaro.
On the other hand, Rodolfo Bajade, 24, of Barangay South Fundidor, Molo district and Julius Borro, 25, of Barangay Calaparan, Arevalo district were also arrested.
On the other hand, the ICPO recorded only two cases of theft between March 20 to 30. Last year in the same period, it monitored 13 cases./PN
