Two ‘bookies’ collectors nabbed

By Jennifer P. Rendon

 

Two collectors of a bookies or illegal gambling operation were arrested late afternoon of Dec 18, 2020 in San Dionisio, Iloilo.

Ronnie Fuentes, 56, of Barangay Cubay, San Dionisio and Eleuterio Perez, 58, of Barangay Canas, San Dionisio, were arrested after they were caught soliciting and collecting bets for Lucky 4 at Barangay Bagacay.

Lucky 4 is a game which generates its winning number combination online.

Members of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) Provincial Special Operations Group together with San Dionisio Police Station conducted the operation following reports of the existence of the bookies game.

Recovered from the suspects’ possession were two bundles of cotejos or bet lists, two ballpens, and P249 cash.

Staff Sergeant Jave Velasco, San Dionisio police investigator, said bookies operation like Lucky 4 is not rampant in the area. The financiers of the illegal games remain unknown.

But a day before the operation, the Regional Intelligence Division 6 (RID-6), the IPPO-PSOG, the Iloilo Maritime Station, and Estancia Police Station also arrested three persons for soliciting bets for the same game.

Joel Baradas, 49, of Villa Reyes St., Estancia; Rafael dela Cruz, 39 of Barangay Malbog, Estancia; Gina Clemente, 54, of Barangay Bulaqueña, Estancia, were collared 7 pm Thursday at Poblacion Zone II, Estancia.

Recovered from their possession was P1,040 bet money and three bet slips for Lucky 4.

All suspects are detained and will be charged for violation of Republic Act 9287.