By JEN BAYLON

A total of 246 individuals were arrested during the month-long operation against illegal gambling in Negros Occidental, the Police Regional Office in Western Visayas (PRO-6) reported.

Of the number, 205 were arrested by the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO), while 41 were apprehended by the Bacolod City Police Office.

NOCPPO had the highest number of arrested persons among police offices in the region.

It is followed by the Iloilo City Police Office with 45 arrests, Iloilo Police Provincial Office and Aklan Police Provincial Office with 17 each, Antique Police Provincial Office with 16, Capiz Police Provincial Office with 15, and Guimaras Police Provincial Office with 11.

The recent anti-illegal gambling operations in Western Visayas have resulted in the arrest of 391 individuals and the confiscation of P206,328 in cash bets.

The bookies collectors arrested were reported to be part of a syndicate operating illegal number games in the province using winning numbers from Small Town Lottery (STL) draws.

Earlier, PRO-6 director Brigadier General Jack Wanky ordered all police personnel in the region to wipe out illegal gambling activities, while asserting a “no-take policy” in their operations.

Wanky reminded police officers to observe a “no-take policy” approach, which means zero-tolerance during operations.

They are ordered to ensure that charges will be filed against arrested illegal gambling violators.

Last month, four illegal STL bookies operators were arrested in Negros Occidental cities of Escalante, Victorias and Sagay, as well as Candoni town.

Cash bets and tally sheets worth P3,958 were confiscated during illegal gambling operations.

The NOCPPO reported that eight other individuals involved in illegal gambling were arrested in the municipalities of La Castellana and Calatrava, as well as the cities of Himamaylan, Bago and La Carlota.

The operations resulted in the confiscation of gambling bets worth P1,146./JB, WDJ