Drive vs Illegal Gambling vigilantes hunting masiao operators?

CEBU, Philippines - Is there something to the recent shooting of a swertres financier than meets the eye? If an “ex-masiao financier” is to be believed, those involved in bigtime operations of illegal numbers game must beware because “vigilantes” are out to get them.

Randy Bulibuli, who confessed to have been involved in the illegal business, revealed that he first received a written warning or “paskin” posted at his gate in Pasil, Cebu City, urging him to stop his masiao activities.

In an exclusive interview with The FREEMAN, Bulibuli said he did not mind the warning and went on with his business. But at dawn of January 30 this year, armed men strafed his gate. He never reported the matter to the police, although his gate was “riddled” with bullets, with some hitting two of his vehicles.

Bulibuli said he thought authorities were behind this so he arranged a meeting with top ranking police officials to assure them he will no longer finance masiao.

“Mihunong g’yud ko pag-operate og masiao bai gikan adtong Febrero 1,” said Bulibuli. But he disclosed that his ushers have continued with their illegal operations, although with another masiao financier.

Confession

Bulibuli confessed that he was involved in masiao operations for 10 years. He named the person who served as “umbrella” of masiao financiers in Cebu and other parts of the Visayas .

“Nakahukom ko nga mohunong na lang kay mora’g init na kaayo ron,” said Bulibuli. (I decided to stop our operations because a group is hot on our heels.)

His belief about armed men being after them was reinforced by the shooting the other day of Edgar Lim who, police claimed, is also involved in illegal numbers game operations. Lim was reportedly arrested months ago and posted bail.

Bulibuli heard that the unidentified men had lobbed a hand grenade inside the compound of Lim, although the explosion only damaged Lim’s vehicle. The matter was not also reported to the police, Bulibuli said.

Mayor Michael Rama said masiao is not his priority and even challenged Police Regional Office-7 Director Marcelo Garbo to neutralize the illegal numbers game operations in the entire region.

Republic Act 8551 provides that local chief executives should be active in the campaign against illegal gambling by supervising the operations of the police in their areas.

The law states that “the control and supervision of anti-gambling operations shall be within the jurisdiction of local government executives.”

Cebu City has Ordinance 1616 that regulates the “manufacturing, selling, distribution and even possession of masiao tipsheets,” but this has not been strictly implemented.

Many printing shops in the city still print masiao tipsheets, bought mostly by motorcycle-riding men who distribute these throughout the province.

Masiao operators used to get their winning three-number combinations from the results of the jai-alai fronton in Mambaling when it was still operating. But now, sources say, it is a “syndicate who fabricates” the wining combinations.

The daily sales of masiao operations throughout Visayas and Mindanao are reportedly in millions. Those who wish to operate masiao but will not connive with the Cebu-based syndicate will surely lose millions.

“Kon dili ka magpasakop sa sindikato ila ka nga papalitan og daghang numero nga dagko og pusta unya maoy ilang padag-on, ang resulta dili magdugay mahurot ang imong puhonan,” a source privy to the illegal numbers game operation said. (The group works against non-members by paying a lot for a number and making the number win. This way, the non-member would have to pay huge amount of money to winners.)

Masiao even became more popular with some radio stations giving tips for winning numbers on air. A radio station also makes it appear that a person is covering the Jai-Alai fronton but only one person is actually making noise with his hands.

“Part na sa among gimmick pero usa ra ka tawo ang magbuhat ana nga kon paminawon nimo daghan ang magduwa nga maghapak-hapak sa bola,” said the “announcer.” (It’s part of our gimmick to make it sound that there’s an actual game when there is none.)

“Kadtong mga numero nga gagmay ra og pusta maoy padag-on kay aron pagsiguro nga ganansya g’yud ang mga operators,” he added. (The combination with the least number of bets will win to make sure that the operators will have a profit.)

A printing press then prints the tipsheets containing the fabricated winning number combinations and runners also distribute these to the remote barangays while some broadcasters announce the winning combinations through “coded” messages.

Who is to blame?

Rama said he could not be blamed if masiao proliferates in the city because Camp Crame did not approve of his choice, referring to Senior Superintendent Noli Romana, as Cebu City director.

Garbo earlier lauded Cebu Provincial Police  Office Director Patrocinio Comendador for launching a series of successful anti-gambling operations in the province.

However, there are still reports of “uninterrupted masiao operations” in the city and province, especially in the northern areas.

In 2004, Republic Act 9287 was enacted amending some provisions of the old anti-illegal gambling law by imposing harsher penalties for violators.

A senator said some policemen will intentionally use the Presidential Decree 1602 and not the RA 9287 to “favor the violators” because the old law carries lighter penalties of P400 to P2,000 fine and six-month imprisonment.

The new law imposes 12 years to 14 years imprisonment on managers and operators of jueteng and other forms of illegal gambling while public officials and lawmen found protecting them may be jailed from 16 to 20 years. Gambling operators can also be fined P3 million to P5 million.

The same law provides six to 12 years jail term for workers of illegal gambling outfits. Even bettors may be imprisoned from 30 to 90 days. (FREEMAN)