Cebu City cop nabbed for involvement in illegal numbers game

MANILA, Philippines — A policeman was arrested in Cebu City by anti-scalawag unit of the Philippine National Police (PNP) due to his alleged involvement in the operations of “swertres,” an illegal numbers game.

Staff Sergeant Carlito Tinoy was arrested by operatives of the PNP Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) Visayas Field Unit, assisted by other local police units, in an operation launched in Sitio Sudlon, Barangay Lahug at about 8:45 p.m. on Sunday.

“We have arrested a police non-commissioned officer who has been the subject of persistent reports regarding his involvement in the rampant operations of ‘swertres,’ a banned numbers’ game in his neighborhood despite the order of [PNP chief] Gen. [Archie] Gamboa to stop all forms of illegal gambling activities and the full implementation of the ‘no-take policy’ across the country,” IMEG chief Col. Ronald Lee said Monday.

He said the 41-year-old suspect is a member of the Police Regional Office 7’s (Central Visayas) 701st Regional Mobile Force Battalion. Also arrested during the operation was Tinoy’s alleged cohort identified as Joven Igam.

Confiscated from the accused policeman were a total of P4,000 in different denominations, which were believed to be proceeds of his illegal gambling activity, a calculator, pen, and a tally sheet. Igam meanwhile yielded P500, a pen, and three pieces of stapled tally sheets.

The policeman was disarmed of his 9mm semi-automatic pistol upon his arrest.

Both suspects are detained at the Regional Intelligence Division of PRO7 pending the filing of criminal charges for violation of the Republic Act 9287, which imposes penalties for illegal numbers games, while Tinoy will face an additional charge of the RA 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Lee said IMEG will also recommend before Central Visayas police chief Brig. Gen. Albert Ferro the conduct of summary dismissal proceedings against the policeman.

EDV