PALAYAN CITY –– Ten persons, including four women, were arrested for alleged illegal gambling hours after the city government distributed cash assistance to families in Barangay Manacnac here, at about 4:15 p.m. Monday.
Col. Renato Morales, city police chief, identified the suspects as Angelo Diongco, 39, construction worker; Rogelio Gonzales, 66, jobless; Marilou Guerra, 56, vendor; Garry Gatbunton, 19, student; Daniel Onia, 27, construction worker; Roldan Viado, 34, construction worker; Gregorio Guerra, 51, vendor; Tessa Sanchez, 34, jobless; Theresa Onia, 52, jobless; and Marites Guerra, 59, jobless, all of the said village.
Morales said the suspects were caught in the act of playing cards in three sets in an anti-gambling operation that was conducted upon receiving complaints from concerned citizens.
Charges for violation of Presidential Decree 1602 (Illegal Gambling) and the newly enacted Republic Act 11332 or Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act and poised on them.
In a social media post, Mayor Adrianne Mae Cuevas expressed disappointment that some people had even managed to gamble money amid government’s effort to help them in the present crisis.
“Eto na po ang nakakasama ng loob, pagkatapos mong intindihin ang magiging kalagayan ng inyong mga ka–lungsod, ginawa mo na ang lahat ng kaparaanan para maitawid sila sa krisis, eto pa po ang igaganti nila,” Cuevas said in a post that was accompanied with a blurred video of the police operation.
“Pag di kayo binigyan, sasabihin nyo ginugutom kayo, pinupolitika kayo, walang kwenta kaming mga naglilingkod sa inyo, pero kayo, anong ginagawa nyo?Ang isugal ang tulong ng pamahalaan sa inyo. Saan ang konsensya nyo?” she lamented.
Earlier that day, Cuevas led the distribution of the P3,000 cash assistance to families in the said village.
