By CESAR JOLITO III
The Bacolod City council has urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) to intensify its campaign against illegal gambling, particularly the unauthorized operations of Small Town Lottery (STL) within the city.
The move came after the city council approved a resolution authored by Councilor Dindo Ramos, chairperson of the Committee on Transportation and Traffic, requesting Mayor Greg Gasataya to relay the directive to local police.
Ramos stressed that despite existing laws, illegal STL activities remain rampant in several areas of Bacolod.
He said bets are openly collected even though operators lack the necessary business permits, depriving the city of revenues.
“The illegal operation of STL and other forms of gambling not sanctioned by law have proliferated, posing social, moral and economic risks to the community,” Ramos said.
The councilor emphasized that under the Local Government Code, the city is mandated to ensure peace and order while protecting public safety and welfare.
He added that the PNP, as the primary law enforcement agency, is duty-bound to enforce laws and conduct operations against illegal gambling activities.
‘Bookies’
More than 130 STL “bookies” have also been nabbed by police operatives in Bacolod and Negros Occidental since 2024 in an intensified campaign against the proliferation of illegal betting outlets using STL as a front.
Bookies, an unauthorized form of STL, pose a direct challenge to the legitimate operations of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
Bookies use the same numbers drawn by STL.
Earlier this year, the Bacolod City Prosecutor’s Office charged 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. in separate operations against bookies.
Their apprehension resulted in the confiscation of P3,380 in alleged cash bets, PCSO tally sheets and a dilapidated STL identification card.
The arrested bookies are now facing charges for violation of Republic Act (RA) 9287, or an act increasing the penalties for illegal numbers games.
RA 9287 increases penalties for illegal numbers games in the country and aims to eradicate these activities and punish those involved, including bettors, personnel and government officials, while also protecting witnesses and providing incentives for law enforcement officers.
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.
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./CJ, WDJ