4 illegal STL bet collectors held in Lucena

File Photo by JOAN BONDOC

LUCENA CITY — Four suspected bet collectors for the illegal operation of Small Town Lottery (STL) called “bookies” were arrested in a police operation in this city in Quezon province on Wednesday night, police said.

Anti-illegal gambling operatives collared Carlos Maximo, Cleofe Padilla, Aireen Hermoso and Nholan Padilla while collecting and accounting money bets in Barangay Ilayang Iyam around 7:52 p.m., Colonel Audie Madrideo, Quezon police director, said in a report.

Seized from the suspects were STL bet collection forms, paraphernalia, calculators and money bets of different denominations.

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 the illegal operation of the lottery being run by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

The suspects were charged with violation of Republic Act No. 9287 (An Act Increasing the Penalties for Illegal Numbers Game, Amending Certain Provision of Presidential Act 1602 and for Other Purposes).