Ex-cop, SAP beneficiaries held for illegal gambling in Isabela

By Liezle Basa Inigo

GAMU, Isabela — Six persons, including a retired policeman and beneficiar`ies of the cash aid under the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) were arrested by police for engaging in illegal gambling on Wednesday here in Barangay District III.

Police Captain Clarence Labasan, spokesman of Isabela Provincial Police Office identified those arrested as Juanito Nalleb, 64, a retired policeman; Jocelyn Ariola, 46, a vendor and SAP beneficiary; Josie Paclibar, 46, a barangay health worker and 4P’s beneficiary; Rosita Medrano, 62; Imelda Dupaya, 56, SAP beneficiary; and Sol Preza Dupaya, 53. All are residents of Brgy. District III, Gamu, Isabela.

Around 2:15 PM of May 13, elements of Gamu Police conducted an anti-illegal gambling operation in the area that resulted in the arrest of the six who were caught in the act of playing “tong-its” and for violation of the General Community Quarantine regulation (GCQ) on physical distancing.

Confiscated from the suspects were one long wooden table, one oval wooden table, two sets of red LOTUS playing cards, nine P100 bills, Eight eight P50 bills, 11 P20 bills, 14 P5 coins, and six Monoblock chairs.

The suspects and the confiscated items were turned over to the Gamu Police.