CEBU, Philippines - Three persons, including a barangay councilman, were arrested by the police Monday evening in Barangay Busay, Moalboal because of their alleged involvement in illegal gambling operation.
Councilman Arsenio Asentista and his wife Basiliza allegedly serve as illegal gambling coordinators. Asentista’s brother, Ernesto, was also arrested during the operation for trying to intervene in the police work.
PIB deputy chief, Sr. Insp. Leo Logroño, said the Asentista couple was placed under surveillance for two weeks following reports of their involvement in the illegal numbers game. The police conducted a test buy which served as basis in the arrest.
“Diha ra man gud sila sa terrace sa ilang balay nag-tally. (They were doing the tally at the terrace of their house),†Logroño said in a phone interview.
Several tally sheets with different numbers combination, tip sheets, calculators, and other gambling paraphernalia were recovered by the police from the suspects. Bet money amounting to P1,100 was also seized by the police.
The suspects are now temporarily detained at the Consolacion Police Station.
Charges for violating RA 9287 or Anti-Illegal Gambling Law were filed yesterday against the couple while a separate case for obstruction will be filed against Ernesto.— (FREEMAN)