5 peryahan ng bayan branches shut down

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) here closed down five branches of Peryahan ng Bayan on Sunday for illegal gambling operations.

NBI Bacolod head Renoir Baldovino said on Monday that they were armed with search warrants when they shut down the Peryahan branches in the towns of Murcia, E.B. Magalona, and Hinigaran, and cities of Himamaylan and Victorias.

Baldovino said 36 employees who were manning the outlets were also arrested during the operation. 

They were charged for violation of Republic Act 9287 or the illegal numbers game yesterday.

Baldovino said the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) provided a deed of authority to a company to allow the operation of Peryahan ng Bayan in the province in 2014.

However, they failed to renew it when the deed of authority ended in 2016.

There is an ongoing issue on the deed of authority, he said.

Last year, two Peryahan branches were also closed down in the province for the same offense.

Baldovino said he is not yet sure if there are still other branches which are committing the same offense but they will continue to monitor illegal gambling activities in the province.