Illegal gambling

BEHIND THE SCENES
Alfred P. Dizon

BAGUIO CITY – A newsman was complaining they could not play darts at the second floor of a media watering hole along Session Road here last week.

The other newsmen were blaming the police for this. Reason: some old pusoy die-hards took over the table near the dart lane and discreetly played their favorite card game, thinking they were in their living room.

Our learned bubwit gave the conjecture that our pusoy aficionados may have been driven out from their lairs. You see, police raided some gambling dens along the central business district because, according to our bubwit, some if nor most of the moolah didn’t reach their intended recipients, so nagkalokohan na.

A police report said joint operatives of Police Station 7 arrested 37 males during the operation conducted 11:30 a.m., Sept. 1 at Garden Inn Building along Dagohoy St.
The team reportedly confiscated a salisi table, two paddles, bet money amounting to P185.00, one baccarat box, playing cards, one set of drop ball for card games and one set of drop balls for pula – puti.

Thirty four of the suspects were charged for violation of Republic Act 9287 (illegal gambling) at the city prosecutor’s office but were subsequently released after promising to appear before inquest prosecutor Edwin Bryan Sagsago. Three others who were minors were turned over to Department of Social Works and Development.

The police report said from Jan. 1 to July 31, city police conducted 18 operations against illegal gambling. Of these, 58 persons were arrested and 16 cases filed in court. Cash bets amounting to P12,609.25 and assorted gambling paraphernalia were confiscated.

It is also interesting to note that city police are history buffs. According to the police report, cops conducted three anti-illegal gambling operations at Dagohoy St. way back in 2008, two of which turned out negative while the third resulted to the arrest of two suspects.

Also, the city police intelligence unit reportedly “conducted an illegal gambling operation” June 18 at Old Garden Theatre. Three suspects were reportedly arrested and charged for violation of Republic Act 9287 for having in their possession P524.50 cash bets and a set of playing cards.

The press release stated: “In line with the campaign of Mayor Mauricio Domogan against illegal gambling in the city, city police under the leadership of Senior Supt. David Lacdan is continuously conducting intelligence information gathering to find out gambling dens and other places where illegal gambling is present and will subsequently conduct police operations to stop the illegal activity. However, the BCPO also appeals to the public to cooperate with the local government in the fight against gambling by avoiding patronage to these illegal games and by giving pertinent information that these maybe helpful in the conduct of police operations. It is imperative that in order to permanently stop illegal gambling, the police and the community must work hand in hand to attain a gambling free city.”

Nagmayaten aya nga basaen. But my bubwit says he is wondering why popular gambling joint beside a popular fasfood along Legarda Road is not being raided.

Nevertheless, he has a tip for the police to earn more pogi points in its fight against illegal gambling other than raiding pusoy, monte, sonkiang or Lucky 9 joints or issuing “praise releases.”

According to him, all policemen have to do is go to waiting sheds, jeepney stations, sari-sari stores, restaurants and yes, even city hall, look and arrest those characters with shifty eyes who usually have a belt bag strapped to their waists holding a piece of paper with number combinations and a ball pen.

The locals call them kubradors. They are everywhere like ants on a molehill. They solicit gambling bets which supposedly makes the money go around in this man-made disaster-prone city.

They are the foot soldiers of the “lords” in a popular game of 37 numbers. They call it jueteng.