By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Bacolod City filed charges yesterday against three barangay captains for alleged involvement in illegal gambling activities.

NBI-Bacolod chief Atty. Renoir Baldovino said they have filed cases against village chiefs Noli Villarosa of Bacolod’s Barangay Tangub, and Joel Alibango of Barangay 5 and Francz Leonard Seguiro of Barangay 6, both in Negros Occidental’s Kabankalan City.

Also included in the charges is an individual who is not yet identified.

Baldovino said the charges are related to Presidential Decree No. 1602, amended by Republic Act 9287, or an act increasing the penalties for illegal numbers games.

The charges were filed at the Kabankalan City Prosecutor’s Office.

Baldovino said the results of their investigation revealed that they were involved in illegal Small Town Lottery (STL) operations in Kabankalan.

It can be recalled that the NBI carried out an entrapment operation in the locality last February 15, which resulted in the arrest of three bet collectors and a bettor in the city’s barangays 5, 6 and 7.

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

The charges against those arrested have already been filed, Baldovino said.

Meanwhile, Baldovino added that they have enough documentary and testimonial evidence that could point to Villarosa’s alleged involvement in illegal STL operations.

In response to the allegations, Villarosa denied his involvement in the illegal STL operations.

Villarosa believed the criminal charges filed against him were politically motivated as he has one remaining term in the upcoming barangay elections this year.

He also said he was against illegal STL operations from the very beginning and even wants it stopped as it doesn’t even pay taxes.

The village chief of Tangub added he is prepared to answer the allegations filed against him and is even willing to provide testimony to the NBI if he is ever invited for the inquiry./DGB, WDJ