Blotter

GAMBLING MACHINES DESTROYED

POLICE destroyed 262 illegal gambling machines yesterday at the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) headquarters.

The machines were confiscated from May to September in Cebu and other parts of Region 7. These included 55 video karera machines, 18 bingo machines and 51 “moli-moli” machines seized by the Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG); 16 video karera machines confiscated by CPPO, and 62 video karera, 56 moli-moli and four bingo machines seized by the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO).

Chief Supt. Danilo Constantino, chief of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas, said the police are undergoing pre-charge evaluation in relation to the campaign against illegal gambling operations. This is done to determine whether they have complied with the targets set in the campaign against gambling illegal activities.

This is also aimed to determine if the heads of the police offices and stations are not involved in illegal activities. /Correspondent Christine Emily L. Pantaleon

DRUG SUSPECT FALLS

Police arrested a suspected drug pusher who claimed his financier is currently detained at the Cebu City Jail.

Jophie Terana Hewal, 31, was arrested by operatives of the City Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operation Task Force after he sold a pack of suspected shabu worth P200 to a poseur-buyer in sitio Bakante, barangay Hipodromo Monday night. After the arrest, 48 packs believed to contain shabu worth P10,000 were recovered from the suspect’s possession.

Senior Insp. Eunil Avergonzado said Hewal confessed that his financier is currently detained at the Cebu City Jail for drug charges but is still able to sustain the illegal drug activity.

Police said the financier operates the illegal activity through text messages while drug proceeds are being collected by his errand boy. /CORRESPONDENT CHITO O. ARAGON