Cops raid, shut down Talisay swertres stalls

CEBU, Philippines - Police in Talisay City have started the crackdown against operators of illegal swertres, closing down several booths and apprehending their stall attendants on Wednesday afternoon.  

Superintendent Germano Mallari, chief of Talisay City police, led the operation. The group started the raids in Barangay Poblacion, followed by Tabunok, Bulacao and San Isidro.

Six lottery attendants were caught reportedly attending the booths. They were identified as Meralyn Bandilon Modlon, Kimberly Pacana, Ella Fereja, Ricardo Labajo, Jeanina Cabrera and Julie Ann Barera.

The arrested persons refused to give  statements.

Police said the outlets they shut down were all located along the road and went by different names like “Taurus,” “Pioneer,” and “Mercury,” among others.

Mallari said they are still trying to identify the operators.

He also said other stalls were immediately closed and attendants fled after sensing police presence. However, he vowed to carry out more operations in all barangays of the city.

Last week, Association of Barangay Councils President Raul Cabañero called for a special meeting with 22 barangay captains and other government officials concerned with the intention of unifying their clamor for the eradication of illegal swertres which is becoming reportedly rampant in the city.

According to Cabañero, illegal swertres booths are brazenly put up along the road in Talisay.

Swertres is a numbers game only the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office is authorized to run.

Cabañero estimated that around 150 illegal swertres outlets have been holding business in different parts of the city.

Mayor Johnny De los Reyes, however, said Cabañero has “no personality” to issue such statement because he was once arrested for playing mahjong and ignored giving assistance to the National Bureau of Investigation  during a drug raid in his barangay, Bulacao.

If the mayor had it his way, he would not apprehend the illegal swertres personalities since for him, they are just doing business as a means of living.

"Kaning swertres arang-arang nalang ni kaysa mangutkot og bas ug graba ug sa illegal nga drugas," he said.

He said he will try to ask Mallari to stop the anti-illegal swertres operations, unless the latter could “give decent job to the affected individuals.”

Meanwhile, Talisay police also confiscated one moli-moli unit and a video karera machine in Sitio Asan, Barangay Cansojong on Tuesday morning.

Earlier this week, Police Regional Office-7 Chief Superintendent Prudencio Bañas ordered his men to intensify their campaign against illegal gambling. (FREEMAN)