Police Regional Office 12 – Several complaints from concerned citizens about illegal gambling activities has led the authorities to seize six (6) suspects with a total of nearly Php 2,000.00 gambling bets and 7 (seven) gambling paraphernalia on Tuesday, April 14, 2020, during anti-illegal gambling operations in different parts of Region 12.
At 2:05 PM, three (3) residents of Brgy. Poblacion, Columbio, Sultan Kudarat identified as Fernando Baral Casamorin, Jell Cepeda Datoon, and Alfredo Costales Valdez were arrested by the elements of Columbio Municipal Police Station and intel operatives for an illegal card game called “tong-its”. recovered from their possession and control the following to wit; One (1) set plastic playing Card, Two (2) pcs Fifty-peso paper bill, five (5) pc Twenty Peso paper bill, three (3) pcs 10-peso coin and four (4) pcs. 5-peso coin with a total amount of Two Hundred Fifty pesos (Php 250.00) as gambling bet money. The arrested persons also violated the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) Protocols in which this Municipality strictly observed and implemented.
At about 3:00 PM, Alamada MPS was informed that there was an ongoing cockfighting (Tari-Tari) activity at Sitio Bacolod, Brgy. Bao, Alamada, Cotabato. Immediately elements of the said MPS and Intel Operatives proceeded to the reported place to investigate with a distance of more or less Forty (40) kilometers away from this Office. Upon arrival at the said place, the responding team saw a group of persons screaming engaged in illegal cockfighting activities. However, when they saw the cops approaching, they scampered to different directions and nobody was apprehended. Initial investigation disclosed that one of the suspects identified as Juanito Dalumpines, legal age, male, and a resident of Sitio Bacolod, Brgy Bao, Alamada, Cotabato served as the “MASYADOR” who owned a sling bag color black he left on top of the table containing Bet money amounting to Five Hundred Fifty Pesos (Php 550.00) in different denominations and also seized from the area was alive fighting cock left by one of the fleeing suspects. This station conducted collaborative efforts from the said Barangay officials to identify the remaining at-large suspects to put them to answer for the crime they have committed in this particular illegal activities despites of vigorous warned from a higher authority.
At about 4:30 PM, after elements of Norala Municipal Police Station received information about illegal gambling activity at Public Cemetery, Purok San Roque, Barangay Poblacion, Norala, South Cotabato , they immediately dispatched to the area and saw a group of persons sitting on the top of the tomb while playing card game. However, when they saw the patrol car, immediately fled to unknown direction, but one of the suspects was identified as Edmond Del Pillar, 33 yrs old, single, laborer and a resident of Purok San Roque, Barangay Poblacion, Norala South Cotabato. Recovered from the area were bet money amounting to one Hundred Fifteen Pesos (P115.00) in different denominations and a set of plastic playing cards
At 4:50 PM of the said date, elements of Aleosan Municipal Police Station conducted a saturation drive against all forms of illegal gambling activity such as “CARA Y CRUS” locally known as HANTAK at the Brgy. Pentil of this municipality. The unidentified suspects were already managed to escape and left the gambling paraphernalia (one (1) piece flat stone and one (1) piece stand steel ring).
At about 6:20 PM of April 14, 2020, the Lake Sebu MPS apprehended two (2) minors information received by Lake Sebu MPS from a concerned citizen informing that there were alleged minors involved in gambling (playing cards/tong-its) at T’boli Village, Barangay Lamdalag, Lake Sebu, South Cotabato. Immediately, the patrol team proceeded to said place and as a result, two (2) minors (personal circumstances withheld) were caught in the act of playing the same. Recovered from their possession and control were bet money amounting to Sixty Pesos (Php 60.00) and one (1) set playing cards.
At about 6:30 PM, elements of Banga MPS conducted anti-illegal gambling operation at Sitio Lamkot, Barangay Malaya, Banga, South Cotabato that resulted to the confiscation of one (1) unit Fruit Game Machine commonly known as “Tolendoy” owned by Samuel Andres, legal age, married, laborer and a resident of said place. The confiscated gambling machine and bet coin amounting to Fifty Six Pesos (P56.00) were brought to Banga MPS for proper disposition. Suspect is not around during the said operation. A case for violation of PD 1602 was being readied for filing in court against the suspect.
At about 9:30 PM, elements of Banisilan MPS apprehended Ranskie Barsanas Montalban in the act of playing games card locally known as “tong-its” while the unidentified playmates fled away to deferent directions upon sensing the incoming operating team. Confiscated from his possession and control are the following one (1) set playing cards used for “tong-its” and bet money amounting to eight Hundred fifty-one pesos (851.00) in different denominations. The suspect was duly informed of his constitutional rights under the Miranda Doctrine.
Seized suspects were brought to their respective stations along with the seized items for documentation and proper disposition of the case.
“Just because we are on Enhanced Community Quarantine it doesn’t mean that our mission to eradicate illegal gambling activities will be on hold. The campaign against illegal gambling will still be tightened side by side just like our campaign against illegal drugs”, said PBGEN ALFRED S CORPUS.
