VICTORIA, Tarlac – The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and local police arrested two people during an anti-illegal gambling operation at the Victoria Public Market in Barangay San Gavino on June 11.
The suspects, who were listed by their aliases “Aton,” 34, of Barangay Sta. Barbara, and “Edylyn,” 44, of Barangay Bangar, both of Victoria, Tarlac, were caught allegedly soliciting and accepting bets for an illegal numbers game known as Small Town Lottery bookies.
The operation was carried out under Oplan Bolilyo, which was spearheaded by the CIDG Tarlac Provincial Field Unit chief P/Lt. Col. Arvin Hosmillo, in coordination with the Victoria Municipal Police.
Both suspects were registered STL sales agents, or “kubrador,” who allegedly used their government-issued authorization as cover to engage in illegal betting outside the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office’s official betting system.
Investigators seized the suspects’ illegal papelito betting slips, ball pens, and money received by the suspects and marked money used during the investigation.
A concerned citizen had tipped off the CIDG about the illegal gambling going on in the area, triggering the operation, the police said.
The two suspects were taken to the CIDG Tarlac Provincial Field Unit office for proper documentation and disposition. Charges are being prepared for the prosecution before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor in Tarlac City for violation of Presidential Decree 1602 as amended by Republic Act 9287.
