Majority of gambling violators caught due to neighbors’ tips

By Jennifer P. Rendon

 

Some neighbors don’t talk. Some don’t help, either. But they gossip and complain. And sometimes, these complaints land on police’s ears.

These “gossiping” neighbors are the reason why police were able to arrest persons who play petty “games.”

Such was the case of a family of four in Molo, Iloilo City who was caught playing mahjong late afternoon of February 11, 2021.

Major Engilbert Banquillo, Molo police chief, identified the suspects as Rowena, 43, her cousins Catherine, 28, and Marivic, 29; and their aunt, 59-year-old Candelaria, all residents of Zone 5, Barangay South Fundidor, Molo.

The four were playing in the porch in full view of the neighborhood.

Banquillo said they merely responded after a neighbor called the Molo police hotline informing them that a group was playing mahjong in the area.

“They were caught in the act playing mahjong. That’s why, we have to arrest them,” he said.

Recovered from the four were PHP435 cash bet, a set of mahjong tiles, three pieces of dice, a wooden table, and four plastic chairs.

Banquillo said it was not their habit to patrol their area to arrest persons playing mahjong or petty card games.

“But because there is a report, we have to take action. We have to verify it. If we won’t do that, the informant usually calls the 8888 hotline and complain about our inaction,” he said.

And for Banquillo, it’s easier to respond to a call for assistance than to explain oneself for inaction.

It can be noted that a group of eight young men was arrested following an anti-illegal gambling operation around 11:55PM of February 10 at Serrano Street, Cabatuan town.

Lieutenant Pantaleon Amante Jr, Cabatuan PNP officer-in-charge, and his team also went to the area after receiving a call that several individuals were noisily playing cards.

Known as the Citizens’ Complaint a hotline and as the President’s Hotline, 8888 is a 24/7 national public hotline operated by the government.

It was introduced on August 1, 2016 to allow the public to report poor government front-line service delivery and corrupt practices in all government agencies, government-owned and controlled corporations, government financial institutions and other instrumentalities of the government in the Philippines.

It coordinates with the concerned government agency for the prompt resolution of public grievances and to provide feedback on the action taken on citizens’ concerns within 72 hours.