Alleged swertres collector nabbed as police intensify crackdown on illegal gambling

An alleged illegal swertres collector was arrested during the anti-gambling operation carried out by the combined police operatives of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group 9 (CIDG 9) and Police Station 6 on Friday.

The police authorities apprehended Alvin Pioquinto y Faustino during its surprise operation conducted at Arquiza Drive, Barangay Mampang Friday night.

Recovered from Pioquinto were a pad of betting stub, containing the written 3 digits combinations, a black ball pen, the alleged bet money amounting to P198, a black sling bag and a STL identification card.

The suspect was brought to CIDG9 headquarters for custody and detention as they were still readying the filing of a case for violation of R.A. 9287 or the Anti-illegal Gambling Law in court.

According the police, suspects caught in the act of illegal gambling or those apprehended to be directly involved in any form of illegal gambling will have to pay a bail bond amounting to not less than P12,000 for their temporary liberty.

It can be recalled that Police Regional Office 9 regional director Chief Supt. Billy Beltran has  ordered the City Police Director Sr. Supt. Neri Vincent Ignacio to intensify the operation against all forms of illegal gambling in the entire city.

Beltran’s directive includes crackdown against illegal mahjong, illegal card games, illegal swertres, among others.

In fact, a considerable number of individuals were already arrested by the different police stations for playing mahjong, tong-its and other illegal card game involving bet money in different barangays.

Those who were not able to post bail were properly subjected to inquest proceedings in Court and afterwards formally committed to the Zamboanga City Reformatory Center.

Sr. Supt. Ignacio has also issued a stern warning to local residents especially in the barangay to refrain from engaging in illegal gambling if they don’t want to be arrested by the police. (Eugene A. Lasprilla)