Illegal gambling charges filed vs brgy captain

CEBU - Charges for illegal gambling were filed yesterday against a barangay captain of Argao town following her arrest by elements of the Provincial Intelligence Bureau (PIB) Saturday evening.

 Panadtaran, Argao barangay captain Pacita Villamora was arrested by the PIN team led by Chief Inspectors Ma. Elma de los Santos at her rented stall inside the Argao Public Market where she was allegedly caught supervising her men in the illegal numbers game.

 Villamora was arrested along with her alleged masiao personnel identified as Michael Gegremosa, Markim Gegremosa, Isabelo Remoroza, Del Nino Bajenting, Helen Puerto and Cipriana Tampoy.

 Confiscated from them were eight masiao stubs with numbers, one jai alai Computer Tip Sheet, one jai alai spread, 59 tally sheets with numbers, 20 central tally sheets, several empty tally sheets, seven calculators, six ballpens, one stapler and P5,267 cash believed to be their proceeds from the clandestine game.

Meanwhile, Villamora’s husband yesterday denied that his wife is engaged in the illegal numbers game.

Instead, Ruben Villamora accused the raiding team of negotiating for money in exchange for the release of some of those arrested last Saturday night. He said a member of the team first asked for P250,000 but agreed to bring the amount down to P100,000.

“Duha o tulo lang daw ibilin para file-lan, kay dapat naa man juy kaso kay naa may warrant gi-issue, pero wala pod nag-ingun nga way labot akong asawa,” Ruben said, insisting that his wife was merely tending to their eatery at the Argao Public Market when the raid was implemented.

Ruben also alleged that the raiding team took an entire week of proceeds from their eatery amounting to more than P30,000. Only P5,267 cash was allegedly declared as among the evidences seized during the raid, representing bet money for masiao.

Ruben, however, disclosed that two of those arrested who happen to be their workers at the eatery, allegedly are trusted men of a sports promoter who is known to be a big time masiao financier.

“Mga tawo pod namo na unya hapiton ra na diha ang kuwarta og gipang-tally,” Ruben said.

For her part, De los Santos said she is no longer surprised by the respondents’ reactions, as it is reportedly customary for the suspects and their families to cry foul over their arrest.

De los Santos said they always see to it that they have witnesses when they conduct a raid. Oftentimes, the raiding team reportedly seeks the help of barangay tanods to act as witnesses like the raid in Argao last Saturday evening.

Two barangay tanods were reportedly present at that time and could testify that Villamora was also tallying the masiao sheets with a calculator. Contrary to Ruben’s statement that their eatery earns up to P5,000 a day, De los Santos said this is quite difficult to believe because the eatery is small.

“There were only two tables and as far as I know they sell only chichirya and ice water,” de los Santos said.

De los Santos, nevertheless, said she will look into Ruben’s allegation that a member of her raiding team negotiated to bungle the raid.

What she reportedly learned was that it was Villamora’s camp who offered to pay P10,000 for each of those arrested in exchange for their release.

“I will also have to check that allegation. I make sure that in my stint as PIB head, there is no one doing such negotiation with the suspects,” De los Santos said. — Ferliza C. Contratista/JMO (THE FREEMAN)