393 persons nabbed for illegal gambling in province

A total of 393 persons engaged in illegal gambling, including Small Town Lottery (STL) illegal collectors or “bookies” were arrested by the police in Negros Occidental.

All of them are now facing charges for violation of RA 9287, or an Act Increasing the Penalties for Illegal Numbers Games.

Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) records show that the arrest of 393 violators also yielded P63,476 in cash bets.

It covers the period from January 1 up to the present.

RA 9287, which increases penalties for illegal numbers games in the country, aims to eradicate such activities and punish those involved, including bettors, personnel, and government officials, while also protecting witnesses and incentives for law enforcement officers.

Collectors or agents may be imprisoned for 8 years and 1 day to 10 years, while personnel or staff of illegal numbers game operations face imprisonment for 6 years and up to 8 years, and collectors or agents may be imprisoned for 8 years and day to 10 years.

Police investigations indicate that financiers of illegal gambling are paying the recommended bail set by the court for the arrested bet solicitors, who upon being released, resume their illegal activities.

A bail bond of P60,000 is usually being recommended by the court for the temporary release of arrested illegal gambling violator, according to the Philippine National Police.

NOCPPO records also show a total amount of P11, 426,000 bail were also paid, for the temporary release of arrested illegal gambling violators.

The arrest of 393 illegal gambling violators was a result of the intensified campaign of NOCPPO against all forms of illegal gambling, and the proliferation of “bookies”, or illegal betting outlets using STL as a front.

Bookies use the same numbers drawn by STL. However, the 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.* (NBC)