9 nabbed in Trinidad gambling den raid

LATRINIDAD, Benguet – Police raided agambling joint in this province’s capital town night of Sept. 22 arresting at least nine, five of whom were “bingo gambling joint” workers and four bettors.

The gambling joint, under the guise of a carnival, at Km 5, barangay Pico, just a few meters from the La Trinidad municipal hall and police station, was reportedly operated by a group who took a certain Jim de Vera as a dummy and reportedly operated the joint for more than two months before it was noticed by authorities.

Joint members of the Provincial Investigation and Detective Management section of the Benguet police led by Chief Insp. Melchor Ong and newly installed La Trinidad town police chief Senior Insp. Arnold Ventura set up the operation.

Arrested were Josie Veranses, 46, from Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija; Leonora Hardin, 24, from Baler, Nueva Ecija; Jerome Torres, 24, from Cabiao, also in Nueva Ecija; Jaysie Torres, 27, also from Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija; and Armel Bautista, 40, from San Carlos, Pangasinan, that led to their arrest.

All five were workers of the gambling joint.

Police also nabbed bettors Nestor Aquino, 31; Reynald Mamoya, 42; Winston Paltungan, 23; and Manuel Codeo, 23 -- all La Trinidad residents.

Assorted gambling paraphernalia and cash bets amounting to P5,820. 00 in different denominations were also confiscated.

All nine are now facing criminal charges.