Four SAP beneficiaries, 8 others nabbed in gambling den raid

By Jennifer P. Rendon 

Four beneficiaries of the government’s emergency subsidy program and eight other persons were arrested in a police operation on a suspected illegal gambling raid in Anilao, Iloilo.

Members of the Anilao Police Station, together with the Regional Intelligence Division 6 (RID-6), stormed the house of Gerald Agregado at Barangay Dangulaan around 2:30 p.m. of April 23.

Police Lieutenant Glen Portunes, Anilao police chief, said the 41-year-old Agregado was one of those arrested.

Also arrested were Jose Baluran, 54; Isidro Javier, 55; Claudio Matutino, 64; and Joemar Langreo, 54.

Porrunes confirmed that the latter four were beneficiaries of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)’s Social Amelioration Program.

Police also collared Alberto Dalen, 61; Reynaldo Aniversario, 59; Mariano Bolina, 66; Leo Gene Vestoso, 39; Medy Bolina, 63; Liezl Agregado, 40; and Rex Franco, 39. All are also residents of Dangulaan village.

Portunes said the 12 suspects were caught playing mah-jong and tong-its.

Recovered from the scene were four tables, seven sets of playing cards, two sets of mah-jong tiles; 16 Monoblock chairs, and P12,755 cash.

Portunes said Agregado’s house served as a gambling den even before he assumed as Anilao’s top cop on March 3.

He was told about the operation on the later part of the month.

“We conducted mapping operation in the area before we finally nailed them,” Portunes said.

The suspects will be charged for violation of Presidential Decree 1602 as amended by Republic Act 9287.

This is not the first time that SAP and Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries were caught in illegal gambling operations.

A day before this, six persons, including two 4Ps beneficiaries, were also arrested in Molo, Iloilo City.

On Wednesday, 12 persons who are 4PS and SAP beneficiaries were caught for illegal drugs and illegal gambling in Victorias City, Negros Occidental.