Masiao ‘operator,’ 3 others fall in Cebu raids

CEBU CITY — In simultaneous raids against masiao operations this week, police arrested four men, including an alleged financier.

Agents of the city police’s Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Division, led by their acting chief Rodolfo Albotra, arrested Roberto Ocampo Jr., 35, still tallying number combinations of the illegal numbers game inside a kiosk adjacent to his residence along F. Jaca street in Inayawan at about 10:45 p.m. Monday.

Ocampo was in the police watchlist of alleged jai alai and masiao operators in the city.

Police said Ocampo’s alleged masiao operations covered this city and Talisay City.

Police also arrested Michael Manantan, 18, who was caught assisting Ocampo in tallying number combinations. Seized from him and Ocampo were a calculator, a stapler and P3,000 in bets.

Barely an hour later, the same operatives nabbed Rene Gacho, 47, and Rogelio Petallar, 37, both residents of Barangay Suba, also while tallying masiao number combinations.

Charges of violation of Presidential Decree 1602, or the Anti-Gambling Law, have been filed against the four suspects.

Meanwhile, Lapu-Lapu City policemen seized 47 video karera machines the other day.

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Arturo Radaza said the seizure of the machines proves that he is sincere in the campaign against video karera. — Freeman News Service