An additional 30 Small Town Lottery (STL) illegal collectors, known as “bookies,” were arrested by authorities in Negros Occidental’s Himamaylan City and in capital Bacolod City this year.
This came after the Bacolod City Police Office and Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office further intensified their campaign against the proliferation of “bookies,” or illegal betting outlets using STL as a front.
Charged before the Bacolod City Prosecutor’s Office were Seth Desuyo Jr., Chery Pink Camarines, Albert Abquilan, Maria Luz Castillo, Rosie Bacaro, Mary Grace Tolentino, Tristan Montepio, Eduardo Dolfo, Ruby Ann Maghanoy, Daniel Dizon, and Patricio Delfin Jr.
A bail bond of P60,000 has been recommended for the temporary release of Delfin, who was arrested on April 3 in Himamaylan.
Delfin’s apprehension resulted in confiscation of P3,380 in alleged cash bets, tally sheets of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), and a dilapidated STL identification card.
The arrested bookies are now facing charges for violation of Republic Act 9287, or an act increasing the penalties for illegal numbers games.
RA 9287 increases penalties for illegal numbers games in the country, aims to eradicate these activities and punish those involved, including bettors, personnel and government officials, while also protecting witnesses and incentives for law enforcement officers.
Bookies use the same numbers drawn by STL.
Illegal bet collectors, referred to as “riders,” oftentimes use the ID cards of STL employees and collect bets that are not remitted to the government.
Bookies is an unauthorized form of STL, which poses a direct challenge to the legitimate operations of PCSO.
Collectors or agents may be imprisoned for eight to 10 years, while personnel or staff of illegal numbers game operations face imprisonment for six to eight years, and collectors or agents may be imprisoned for eight to 10 years.
Police investigations indicated that financiers of illegal gambling are paying the recommended bail set by the court for the arrested bet solicitors, who, upon being released, then resume their illegal activities.
More than 100 “bookies” were also nabbed by police operatives in the province last year./WDJ