Two 'masiao runners' arrested at SRP; Man shot in Lorega

CEBU, Philippines - Two men are in hot water after tally sheets for the illegal numbers game “masio” were found in their possession when they were flagged down by authorities for violating traffic rules.

MC Geordust Baynosa, 20, and Edito Obaob, 24, were arrested at the South Road Properties past midnight yesterday.

A report of the City Intelligence Branch showed that Barangay Intelligence Network members Reynaldo Corilla and Ruben Wamelda were patrolling the SRP on board SRP Mobile Car 002 when they spotted Baynosa and Obaob riding a motorcycle without helmets. When they flagged the motorcycle down, they saw a plastic hanging from the motorcycle handle containing sheets of paper. Suspicious of the contents, they checked the plastic and found 70 sheets with different number combinations and P1,240 cash believed to be the proceeds of the game.

In an interview with reporters, Baynosa and Obaob admitted being “runners” and said they are being paid P200 each to deliver the tally sheets. They said they took the job because their income as motorcycle-for-hire drivers is not enough to make ends meet.

Obaob said they were supposed to deliver the tally sheets to a certain Marion who was waiting for them General Maxilom Avenue at that time. Marion is also their neighbor in Kabatbatan, San Fernando town. 

They pointed to a certain “Ursing” as the coordinator of “masiao” in their place. She is reportedly the daughter of a barangay councilman in San Fernando.

Baynosa and Obaob are currently detained while awaiting the filing of charges against them.

Meanwhile, a 24-year-old man is currently fighting for his life after he was shot twice on his face by a neighbor in Barangay Lorega-San Miguel early last Thursday.

Josephus Tundag Reynes was shot by a certain Brian Sentillas, 30, jobless and a resident of sitio Serias in Barangay Lorega.

Juvy Versoza, 32, told the police he saw the victim walking in sitio San Miguel around 12 midnight while talking to someone over his mobile phone. Suddenly, Sentillas shot Reynes.

It was Versoza who rushed Reynes to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center while the suspect fled.

SPO3 Rey Cuyos of the Homicide Section said they are investigating the incident to determine the motive behind the attack. (FREEMAN)