Village official’s partner nabbed for ‘masiao’

A LIVE-IN partner of a barangay councilman was arrested for her alleged involvement in illegal numbers game in barangay Labangon, Cebu City.

Maria Mercedez Dagatan allegedly admitted she is a coordinator of illegal numbers game, masio and swertres.

Dagatan, however, denied that her live-in partner, Labangon barnagay Rudy Tabasa, was involved in the illegal gambling.

Police, who were in the area conducting a saturation drive in the area Thursday night, also arrested Mira Dela Rama Dosdos, 56, and Marilyn Canoy Ursal, 48.

Police said the three women were tallying number combinations inside a house allegedly owned by Tabasa when they were caught by operatives of the Regional Special Operation Group.

Seized from the house were three fax machines, three rolls of fax paper, calculators, stubs, notebooks and other illegal gambling paraphernalia.

In an interview, Dosdos and Ursal said they were just in the house to buy number combinations.

Tabasa is a political ally of Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama.

Rama said yesterday he didn’t know Tabasa’s alleged involvement in illegal numbers game.

He said the incident should not be used as a political issue against him because his opponents also have allies who are engaged in illegal activities. He did not elaborate.

Following the arrest of Tabasa’s live-n partner, Rama said he will order the recall of government vehicles including an ambulance which he issued a Memorandum Receipt with Tabasa’s name on it.

Labangon officials led by barangay captain Victor Buendia are allied with Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) leader and South District Representative Tomas Osmena./CORRESPONDENT CHITO O. ARAGON AND CHIEF OF REPORTERS DORIS C. BONGCAC