Cabanero: Political will needed to stop illegal swertres in Talisay

CEBU, Philippines - “Political will is needed to eradicate the illegal numbers game called swertres, according to Councilor Raul Cabanero, president of the Association of Barangay Councils in Talisay City during a press conference yesterday.

Cabanero said he called for a special meeting last Wednesday to act on complaints lodged by barangay leaders of the city who were also facing with the problem of the blatant spread of the illegal activity in their places.

The councilor said he invited other government officials from the Office of the Mayor, the city police, the licensing office, chairman of the peace and order committee, and the Department of Interior and Local Government.

Cabanero, however, was dismayed of the absence of Mayor Johnny de los Reyes and Councilor Valeriano Ylanan, chairman of the committee on peace and order.

“This problem will depend on whether there is political will in the city government leadership,” he said, as he shared to reporters the alarming stage of the illegal numbers game in the city, especially with the reported plan of putting up swetres booths along the roadsides soon.

With an average of two illegal swertres in the city, there will be a total of 44 betting booths in all of the 22 barangays in Talisay, said the councilor.

During the meeting, Cabanero said the representative of the city police was overwhelmed by the statements aired by the barangay chairmen about the problem.

Chairman Rey Bas of Barangay Biasong shared that he has been embarrassed by swertres operators who operate their illegal business with impunity, disregarding his authority.

Chairman Joel Bas of Barangay Lawaan I, for his part, said he was even offered money for him not to touch the illegal activity.

Cabanero told reporters that the Jane Enrile, licensing officer of the city, had declared the swertres operators have no permit, thus they are into illegal activity.

Superintendent Germano Mallari, chief of the Talisay City Police, said he would check the complaints and address these with successful resolve, with the help of the barangay officials. “If we operate, we hope the barangay officials will help us,” he told The Freeman via a phone interview.

Cabanero later said the minutes of the meeting will be submitted later to the DILG-7 and to the provincial government.  (FREEMAN)