2 suspected ‘bookies’ bet collectors fall in Lucena

LUCENA CITY –– Two suspected bet collectors of the illegal operation of the government-run Small Town Lottery (STL), called “bookies,” were arrested here on Tuesday.

A report from the Quezon police said anti-illegal gambling operatives arrested Erma Galvez and Marlon Asis while collecting bets in Barangay Dalahican at 4:20 p.m.

Seized from the suspects, who are both residents of the said coastal village, were STL bet collection forms, paraphernalia, mobile phone, and money bets in different denominations.

Police said the 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 report said the suspects pointed to one “Alden Alcala” as the alleged financier of the “bookies” operation. The duo also revealed that they remit their bet collections through “Smart Padala.”

The suspects were detained at the city police jail while Alcala remained at large. Delfin T. Mallari Jr. /lzb