Alleged bookies bet collector nabbed in Quezon

LUCENA CITY–A suspected bet collector for an illegal operation of the government-run Small Town Lottery (STL), called “bookies,” was arrested in Sariaya town, Quezon on Tuesday, police said Wednesday.

Senior Supt. Rhoderick Armamento, Quezon police director, said anti-illegal gambling operatives caught Pedrito Bañes Loyola, 36, while collecting bets in Barangay Manggalang Bantilan around 3:50 p.m.

Recovered from Loyola were STL collection forms and money bets.

Police said Loyola failed to produce the identification card issued by Pirouette Gaming Corp., the licensed STL operator in the province, which showed that he was engaged in illegal lottery operation.

Loyola will face charges of violation of Republic Act No. 9287, the amended law on illegal gambling.

Aside from illegal drugs and other forms of criminalities, the Quezon police was also actively waging war against “bookies” and other illegal gambling activities, Armamento said.

The police director said once a local police station receives information that an illegal numbers game was operating in the area, “the town chief of police is under strict order to stop it under pain of severe sanction if he or she failed to do so.” Delfin T. Mallari Jr.