Arrested “operators” of illegal numbers game face charges

CEBU, Philippines - The Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG) filed criminal complaints before the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office against an alleged financier of an illegal numbers game and his ten cohorts who were arrested recently.

On Sunday, the authorities implemented the search warrant issued by Judge Raphael Yrastorza of the Regional Trial Court Branch 14 against Randy Boliboli for violation of Republic Act 9287 otherwise known as illegal numbers game.

The police were able to seize from the two houses owned by Boliboli and wife Richie, illegal numbers game paraphernalia estimated at P150,000.

Aside from the collected evidences and the arrest of Randy, authorities also took into custody Jose Fernandez, 49; Butchie Lendo, 46; Rush Cabaltera, 28; Edward Abejo, 42; Angel Saavedra, 59; Joseph Dahuya, 25; Renadel Calinawan, 38; and Betty Saavedra, 53, who are all residents of Barangay Pasil. Others arrested were Richard Garcia, 37, of Barangay Suba and Reynaldo Santos, 49, of Barangay Labangon.

The authorities first served the search warrant at the house of Boliboli in Rallos Street wherein they were able to arrest his alleged cohorts making adjustments to the bets made. In the house, the authorities were able to seize three fax machines, staplers, calculators, ballpens, tally sheets, rolls of fax papers and telephone units.

In the second house of Boliboli in Espelita Street, the authorities were also able to confiscate calculators, a fax machine, a bundle of bail bond receipts, cash amounting to P12,020, a firearm and bullets.

Boliboli was charged with two counts of Section 3(e) (illegal gambling operator) of RA 9287 and violation of Republic Act 8294 or illegal possession of firearms while Fernandez, Lendo, Cabaltera, Abejo, Dahuya, Calinawan, Garcia and Santos were charged for violation of Section 3(b) (illegal gambling staff) of Republic Act 9287.

Angel, a former policeman assigned at the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) was charged for illegal possession of firearms and Comelec gun ban after the authorities were able to recover from him a .45 caliber pistol with bullets and a holster. He was discharged from the service after he went absent without official leave (AWOL) last year.

Angel and Betty were also charged for Section 3(d) (coordinator) of RA 9287.

During an inquest proceeding, respondents opted not to file counter-affidavits but manifested to face the charges in court. — (FREEMAN)