Ex-gambling bet collector accuses 2 cops of ‘huli-dap’

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – A former bet collector of an illegal gambling outfit in Capiz accused two police officers of alleged “huli-dap” or hold-up and extortion scheme during an anti-illegal gambling operation last May 22, 2023 at Brgy. Yabton Ivisan, Capiz.

Jose Angelo “Benjie” Calma, 54, of Brgy. Cagay here but temporarily residing at Sitio Salanhagan in Brgy. Yabton told Daily Guardian that two cops purportedly assigned to the intelligence section of the Capiz Police Provincial Office (CPPO) approached him while he and his wife were standing beside their motorcycle on the national highway.

The two officers then told him that he was under arrest for soliciting bets for STL bookies in violation of Presidential Decree 1602 or the Anti-Illegal Gambling Law.

He claimed that the policemen took his wallet from his pocket containing P3,500; his cellphone with P1,000 bill placed in the casing; and P25,000 cash in the toolbox of his motorcycle.

He added that one of the cops ordered him to write bet combinations on a blank piece of paper while the other took videos and pictures.

The two cops then returned the cellphone minus the money. He said the P25,000 cash was loaned by his wife from Dunganon Lending Corp while the P4,500 was their personal money.

The police officers then turned over Calma to the Ivisan police station for booking. He was released from police custody after posting bail.

Calma said he reported his version of the incident at the Ivisan police station.

Calma has appealed to Police Lt. Col. Jerome Afuyog, Capiz police director, to investigate the incident.

Calma was a former bet collector for an illegal numbers game in the province of Capiz allegedly operated by a certain Leocindo.

He, however, ceased the job for almost a month now after he suffered from a stroke and due to the massive campaign of the police against illegal gambling.

Daily Guardian is still trying to get the side of the two police officers.