3 alleged ‘bookies’ bet collectors fall in Quezon

LUCENA CITY — At least three suspected bet collectors of an illegal operation of Small Town Lottery (STL) or “bookies,” were arrested in a police operation in Sariaya town in Quezon province on Friday, police said Saturday.

Arrested around 9:30 p.m. while collecting money bets in Barangay Montecillo were Nolasco Tolentino, Julius Casapao, and Leo Titic, Quezon police director Colonel Audie Madrideo said in a report.

Seized from the suspects, who are all residents of Sariaya, were STL bet collection forms, paraphernalia, and money bets in different denominations.

The police said the three suspects failed to produce legitimate identification cards issued by Pirouette Gaming Corp., the licensed STL operator in the province, which showed they were engaged in the illegal operation of the state-sanctioned lottery.

The suspects were detained at the local police jail and were charged with violation of Republic Act 9287 (An Act Increasing The Penalties for Illegal Numbers Game, Amending Certain Provisions of Presidential Act 1602 and for Other Purposes).

Madrideo ordered policemen in the province to stop illegal STL operations in the province in adherence to President Duterte’s order to get rid of unlawful gambling.

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