Casino officer is an online gambler—police

ASIDE from mounting debts, the Philippine Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) security officer spotted running away with P2.8 million in cash from a casino’s security vault was a frequent player of online casino games.

Insp. Michael Anthony Bastes, Investigative and Detective Management Branch (IDMB) chief, said a team interrogated an Internet outlet operator in barangay Pusok, Lapu-Lapu City who confirmed that Pascual Urian Jr. played there.

“We were asking if they knew Pascual Urian Jr. who plays online games here but the attendant didn’t know any Pascual Urian Jr. When we showed him Pascual’s picture, the attendant said Pascual introduced himself as Mark,” Bastes said.

Bastes said they are working with the Lapu-Lapu City police to track down  Urian, who was last seen hurriedly leaving the building of the  Pagcor casino in Parkmall, Mandaue City with a bag of cash last Saturday dawn.

Police left  a photo of Urian with the Internet outlet attendant for future reference.

The attendant said Urian had not been in their outlet since last week.

Pagcor employees are barred from playing in the casino.

He said Pagcor casino employees are being investigated by management for alleged neglect of duty. Cebu Daily News tried but was unable to reach a representative of Pagcor management.

Bastes said they learned that Urian had relatives in Cebu and Bohol province. Urian, a native of Capiz, reportedly owed debts to friends.

He was spotted by a female security guard carrying a plastic bag of cash after leaving the casino at past 12 p.m.

Bastes said the Pagcor Mandaue branch would file charges against Urian. /Correspondent Norman V. Mendoza