By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Two village chiefs in Negros Occidental’s Kabankalan City have denied allegations of involvement in illegal gambling activities.

Atty. Renoir Baldovino, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Bacolod City chief, said they had summoned barangay captains Joel Alibango and Francz Leonard Seguiro of Barangay 5 and 6, respectively.

Baldovino said the investigation is ongoing and they were able to gather enough evidence showing that both village officials had allegedly met with a gambling operator and several bet collectors.

Another former official was also allegedly involved in illegal gambling activities, he said.

Alibango and Seguiro were summoned following an entrapment operation which resulted in the arrest of three bet collectors and a bettor in the city’s barangays 5, 6 and 7 on February 15.

The arrested were identified as Renante Brioso, Reda Ayala, Janet Fustor, and Glen Binigay.

Baldovino said the operators of the illegal Small Town Lottery (STL) are using the draw results from Super Lucky Beagler, Inc. (SLBI), the only authorized STL operator by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office in Bacolod and Negros Occidental.

He added that charges have already been filed against those arrested.

They also allegedly spread misinformation that SLBI’s authority to operate had already expired.

SLBI’s authority to operate is until 2024./DGB, WDJ