“Masiao” financier arrested

Operatives from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group arrested Wednesday evening a suspected masiao financier inside his house in barangay Pit-os and seized two unlicensed guns and ammunitions.

The arrest of Delmo Alivio came following a surveillance operation of the CIDG operatives, led by Chief Insp. Fermin Armendares III, over reports on the alleged masiao operation inside his house.

Regional Trial Court Judge Fortunato de Gracia issued a search warrant against Alivio for violation of Republic Act 9287, otherwise known as the illegal gambling law.

During operation, police confiscated bundles of tally sheets, calculators and money amounting to P4,790 believed to be profit from the illegal numbers game.

However, the police also recovered a shotgun with 10 bullets, and a 9mm pistol with two magazines and eight bullets.

Armendares said Alivio showed to them two licenses for the guns. But the license for the shotgun had already expired in 2005 while the one for the 9mm had expired in 2004.

Armendares said a gun with expired license is still the same as an unlicensed one and is subject for confiscation.

Alivio, however, refused to comment when asked for his side.

A Cebu City police official who asked anonymity said masiao is considered a dying illegal numbers game in the city because it has been overtaken by the popularity of lotto.

Aside from facing illegal gambling charges, Alivio will also be charged for violation of RA 8294 or the illegal possession of firearms law. — Edwin Ian Melecio/LPM