3 alleged illegal STL bet collectors fall in Quezon

LUCENA CITY –– Three suspected bet collectors of illegal Small Town Lottery (STL) or “bookies” were arrested in Tayabas City and Sariaya town in Quezon province on Tuesday night, police said.

Anti-illegal gambling operatives collared Nemesio Arpia, 62, and Kathleen Palima, 25, while collecting and accounting lottery money bets in Barangay Bignay 1 in Sariaya at 9:40 p.m.

Police also arrested Ronaldo Mendoza, 41, while gathering
bets in Barangay San Diego Zone-2, Tayabas City around 9:30 p.m.

Seized from the suspects were STL bet collection forms, paraphernalia, and money bets.

Police said the three failed to produce legitimate identification cards issued by Pirouette Gaming Corp., the licensed STL operator in the province, which indicates they were engaged in “bookies” operation.

“Bookies” are illegal STL operations that maintain unauthorized betting stations in remote areas to avoid detection by authorities.

The “bookies” no longer conduct draws but are just adopting the winning combination from draws of the legal STL held three times a day in the Pirouette office in downtown Lucena City. /lzb