7 illegal bet collectors of STL held in Quezon

LUCENA CITY–At least seven suspected bet collectors of an illegal operation of small town lottery (STL) or “bookies,” were arrested in police operations in Lucena City and Sariaya town in Quezon province on Thursday night.

Arrested around 9:35 p.m. while collecting bets in Barangay (village) Ibabang Iyam were Zyra Cayao and his team of bet collectors John Mark Pabalonia, Arthur Galon, Rodolfo Tiosan, Jean Jasolin and Rowena Cescano, said Quezon police chief Senior Supt. Rhoderick Armamento.

Seized from the suspects were STL bet collection forms, paraphernalia and money bets.

In Sariaya, police also arrested Randy Mayuga while illegally collecting STL bets in Barangay Manggalang Uno around 7:50 p.m.

Police said the suspects failed to produce legitimate identification cards issued by Pirouette Gaming Corp., the licensed STL operator in the province, which showed they were engaged in illegal operation of the state-sanctioned lottery.

The suspects were charged with violation of Republic Act 9287 (An Act Increasing the Penalties for Illegal Numbers Game, Amending Certain Provision of Presidential Act 1602 and for Other Purposes).