PRO 8 special operations group strikes in Samar

By RPCRD, Police Regional Office 8
August 22, 2012

CAMP RUPERTO KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte – The Police Regional Office 8, in its intensified campaign against illegal gambling, conducted a series of operations in Samar province recently resulting in the arrest of three suspects and recovery of several gambling paraphernalia.

PRO-8 Regional Director, PCSUPT Elmer Ragadio Soria said that he activated the Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG) to led in the conduct of police operations against all forms of illegal activities in the region, including the curtailment of illegal numbers game.

“I have instructed the SOG and all line units to re-invigorate the enforcement of special laws and enhance the campaign against all forms of illegal activities. We have a series of successful operations so far and we intend to continue this drive”, the Regional Director added.

In Samar’s capital of Catbalogan City, RSOG conducted anti-gambling operation at around 6 o’clock in the evening of August 18, 2012, an information was received that a known coordinator or “Encargado” of Illegal Numbers Game locally known as “swertres”, identified as alias Dopo was reportedly collecting beats from his cobradors / usher at vicinity of Brgy 12 of said city.

Upon cognizance of said report, RSOG was dispatched to conducted anti-illegal gambling operation at above-mentioned place which resulted to the arrest of one Arnold De Gracia y Ilagan alias Dopo, 45 years old, married, and a resident said barangay. Recovered from his possession and control were: Eighty Four (84) pcs of stubs with entry of different number combinations and bets dated  August 18 2012, scheduled for 9:00 o’clock draw; one (1) pc Casio Calculator; and cash bet amounting to Nine Hundred Forty Seven Pesos (P947.00) Philippine currency.

A case for violation of Sec 2 Para (h) in relation to Sec 3 (d) of RA 9287 was filed against the respondent through Inquest Proceedings before the Office of the City Prosecutor docketed under NPS No VIII-08-INQ-12H-00333 dated August 19, 2012.  Recommended bail for his temporary liberty was fixed at Twenty Four Thousand Pesos (P24,000.00) Philippine Currency. Subject is presently detained at Catbalogan Lock-up cell pursuant to waiver under Art 125 of the RPC he executed.

In related developments, at 4:00 o’clock in the afternoon of August 19, 2012, at Catbalogan City Bus Terminal, elements of RSOG8 conducted anti-Illegal gambling operation that resulted to the arrest of Eustaquio Acas y Sabuco, 76 years old, widower, jobless and a resident of P-2, Brgy. Guindapunan, Catbalogan City, who was caught in the act of engaging in collecting bets for illegal numbers game operation locally known as “swertres”. The team recovered from his possession and control one (1) bundle of stub with entry of number combination dated August 19, 2012; One (1) red ballpen and bet money amounting to Eleven Pesos (P11.00) Philippine Currency.

Another operation conducted at around 7:00 P.M. of same date, resulted to the arrest of one Danilo Mabini y Uy, 63 years old, widower, jobless and a resident of Pier II, Brgy. 3, Catbalogan City for violation of the same offense at Del Rosario St, Brgy. 4, this city and the recovery from his possession and control one (1) bundle of stub with  entries of number combination dated August 19, 2012 (9:00 P.M. swertres draw) and bet money amounting to Seventy Pesos (P70.00) Philippine Currency.

Cases for Violation of Sec. 2 para (g) of RA 9287 against the suspects is now being prepared for filing in court as of this writing.