BACOLOD CITY — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) here has filed complaints against 20 individuals arrested in separate raids of unlicensed “Peryahan ng Bayan” outlets in the cities of Bacolod and Escalante in Negros Occidental on Monday.
NBI-Bacolod District Office chief Renoir Baldovino said they filed the complaints before the City Prosecutor’s Offices in Bacolod and Escalante on Tuesday afternoon, citing violations of Section 3 (b) and (c) of Republic Act No. 9287.
The law penalizes those involved in the operation of illegal numbers games with higher penalties.
In Bacolod, charged were Lito Estember, who was identified as the manager of Global Tech “Peryahan ng Bayan”, and personnel Gezelle Tanique, Donna Mellama, Rodely Mellama, Joffrey Mellama, Arjoeron Elisan, Mark John Camarines, John Ray Suede, and Ofelenio Tomaquin.
Those charged in Escalante were Mary May Britan, Elena Jose, Emalyn Guardania, Sheila Mae Castilla, Joerevin Villarante, Carlos de la Cruz, Chingrig Padatogdog, Edmund Bosico, Roy Agabon, Juvy Bonda, and Vicente Gomez.
Section 3 (b) provides an imprisonment term from six years and one day to eight years for personnel or staff of an illegal numbers game operation, and for any person who allows his vehicle, house, building or land to be used in the operation of the illegal numbers games.
Section 3 (c) prescribes an imprisonment from eight years and one day to 10 years for a person who acts as a collector or agent.
Baldovino said those arrested can post bail for their provisional liberty since the cases are bailable.
Teams from NBI-Bacolod who raided the two outlets were armed with search warrants issued by Executive Judge Cecilyn Burgos-Villavert of Regional Trial Court Branch 89 in Quezon City.
Alexander Balutan, general manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), requested to secure search warrants from the Quezon City Hall of Justice for the joint operation of the NBI and the PCSO.
Jose Manuel Villagracia, acting branch manager of PCSO Negros Occidental, furnished the NBI- Bacolod District Office the certification issued by Balutan, saying that the PCSO has not authorized any other entity to operate a “Peryahan ng Bayan” outlet in the province. (Nanette Guadalquiver/PNA)
