Eleven cara y cruz players nabbed

By: Jennifer P. Rendon 

ELEVEN persons were arrested for playing cara y cruz, or locally known as tumbo, at a wake in San Miguel, Iloilo on July 7, 2019.

Apprehended were Marnell  Sabando, 38, of Barangay 2, San Miguel; Kevin Cabugason, 20, of Barangay Rizal, Oton town; Edwin Villaguas, 31, of Barangay 7, San Miguel; Julmar Gustilo, 30, of Barangay 16, San Miguel; and Kenneth Buncag, 44, of Barangay 12, San Miguel.

Also arrested were Joben Sabijon, 57, of Barangay 8; Shawn Sombilon, 32, of Barangay 7; Kent Salvarino, 23, of Barangay 10; John Michael Samiana, 33, of Barangay 8; Mikhail  Khalil Tadifa, 21, of Barangay 11; and Jomar  Calucab, 44, of Barangay 10, San Miguel.

Police Major Jojo Tabaloc, San Miguel police chief, confirmed that Tadifa is a Sangguniang Kabataan chairperson of San Miguel.

The suspects were caught at a wake in Barangay 11, RV Sanchez Street around 11:40 p.m. Sunday.

Recovered from the area were a playing table, coins, chalk, and P5,400 cash.

Tabaloc said residents were warned that playing tumbo, even at funeral wakes, is illegal.

“I have been vocal about that even before. I have told residents that I won’t allow tumbo to be played but some are still insistent,” he said.

Some of those arrested are into organizing tumbo games during wakes and were in charge of calling for players and bettors.

A case for violation of Presidential Decree 1602 or the anti-illegal gambling law was filed against the suspects.

Most of them were already released on bail yesterday.