Fifteen individuals were arrested on Monday, November 16, after police caught them playing mahjong and ‘tong-its’ in Barangay Alinsolong, located in Batad, Iloilo.

Authorities identified the arrested as Gerly Bones, Rosa Tomo, Janice dela Cruz, Iris Canoday, Joseph Fabiantes, Charlene Descalso, Cherry Faviantes, Ann Marie Calderon, Airen Blanker, Celsa Bitoren, Lolita Sanchez, Alma Balida, Lorena Sibog, Rolinda Arbolado, and Letecia Sanchez, all of the said neighborhood.

The group was arrested at 4:30 p.m. at a wake with police confiscating playing cards, mahjong sets and bet money amounting to P3,794.

The arrested persons were detained at the Batad Police Station and face charges in violation of RA 9287, an amendment to Presidential Decree 1602, which implemented penalties on illegal gambling./WDJ