2 suspected ‘bookies’ bet collectors nabbed in Quezon

LUCENA CITY –– Two suspected bet collectors of illegal operation of government-run Small Town Lottery (STL) or “bookies,” were arrested in Tiaong and Lopez towns in Quezon province on Tuesday, police said.

Crisanto Manuel, 27, was arrested while collecting money bets for “bookies” in Barangay Bebito in Lopez at 7:40 p.m.

In Tiaong, anti-illegal gambling operatives collared Roderick Fisico, 40, who was caught while collecting money bets in the village of Bulakin around 8:30 p.m.

Authorities confiscated several bet collection lists and bet money in different denominations from the suspects.

The suspects failed to produce legitimate identification cards issued by Pirouette Gaming Corp., the licensed STL operator in the province, the report said.

“Bookies” are illegal STL operations that maintain unauthorized betting stations in remote areas to avoid detection by authorities.

The bookies no longer conduct draws but are just adopting the winning combination of the legal lottery. Delfin T. Mallari Jr. /lzb