ILOILO – Two former members of the Philippine National Police, a retired Philippine Army official and a former rebel were the financiers of the resurgent illegal numbers game “bookies” in this province, a source told Panay News.
They tapped the displaced bet collectors of the former Small Town Lottery (STL) franchisee in the province, Eagle-Crest Gaming and Holding Corp., according to the source.
The former rebel operated “bookies” in the 2nd District, specifically in the municipalities of Santa Barbara, Leon, Alimodian, and San Miguel.
On the other hand, one of the two former policemen operated in the 4th District.
“He had the rank of superintendent while still in the police service and was a cousin of a municipal mayor in the district,” the source told Panay News.
The other former policeman operated “bookies” in the 5th District in partnership with a retired Army colonel.
“The policeman was a cousin of a former municipal mayor in the 5th District,” according to the source.
Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) director Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao ordered the Regional Intelligence Division (RID) to validate the information.
“We do not tolerate illegal gambling. If we have evidence, we will file charges,” said Bulalacao.
Following the shutdown of the STL operator in this province, the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) alerted all police stations for the resurgence of illegal gambling.
“I ordered chiefs of police to monitor their areas well and arrest illegal gambling personalities resuming their operations,” said Senior Superintendent Marlon Tayaba, IPPO director.
The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) designed STL to combat illegal numbers games. But because the Iloilo STL franchisee Eagle-Crest failed to regularly remit the required Presumptive Monthly Retail Receipts, its franchise was revoked by PCSO.
“We will not stop until maging illegal gambling-free ang province of Iloilo,” said Tayaba.
In interviews months before he was killed in an ambush on March 13 this year, Eagle-Crest owner Samuel Aguilar said he had over 2,000 bet collectors across the province.
Tayaba acknowledged that STL somehow eased the illegal gambling problem in Iloilo. He was hopeful that PCSO would be allowing another franchisee to operate STL in the province.
“Kung meron mang papalit, better. At least may katulong na mag-combat ng illegal gambling,” he said.
Eagle-Crest held its last STL draw on May 9, 2018.
On the other hand, Bulalacao warned policemen not to engage in illegal gambling.
“Stay away from gambling dens. Stay away illegal gambling operators and financiers. Kung may evidence na nag-i-engage ang mga pulis sa illegal gambling, they will suffer from administrative sanctions,” said Bulalacao.
From May 29 to June 4 this year, 107 illegal gambling suspects were arrested across the region in 34 police operations, PRO-6 data showed.
Manuel Fraginal, chief of PCSO’s National Inter-Branch Security Monitoring, warned displaced STL bet collectors of Eagle-Crest not to return to working for illegal gambling operators./PN
