Four mahjong players arrested

By Jennifer P. Rendon

 

All forms of gambling not sanctioned by the government are illegal. And yes, that includes mahjong, a popular leisure game for many Filipinos.

Late afternoon of Sept 25, 2020, members of the Mina Police Station arrested four persons for playing mahjong at Barangay Singay, Mina, Iloilo.

Police identified the suspects as Juan Salanio, 70; Benjamin Salanio, 63; Wilma Hingco, 52; and Anelyn Guay, 37, all residents of Singay village.

The cops seized a mahjong set, a table, four chairs, and P770 cash bet.

The suspects would be charged for violation of Presidential Decree 1602 (Providing Stiffer Penalties on Illegal Gambling).

Aside from mahjong, gamblers are also drawn into cockfighting.

In Estancia town, cockfight enthusiasts quickly scampered before police could make any arrest.

The police received report of an ongoing cockfighting at Purok 2, Barangay Logingot, Estancia.

But when police conducted the operation, they only seized two abandoned dead fighting cocks, ten motorcycles, and two motorcycles with side car parked at Barangay Pa-on, Estancia.

The recovered items were brought to Estancia Police Station for verification.