Caloocan police drive nets 7

Police arrested seven persons, three of them with long-standing warrants, in separate operations yesterday in Caloocan City.

Senior Superintendent Benjardi Mantele, Caloocan City police chief, identified the three wanted suspects as Christopher Salamera, 26; Emmanuel "Bon-Bon" Lee, 19; and, Raymundo Calceta, 34.

Mantele said Salamera was wanted for physical injuries, Lee for frustrated homicide and Calceta for arson.

It was gathered that the three have been in hiding for several years after having been sentenced by Judge Victoria Isabel of RTC Branch 124 and Judge Antonio Fineza of RTC Branch 131. The three were allegedly arrested in their safehouses.

Meanwhile, Superintendent Dionicio Borromeo, Station Intelligence and Investigation Division (SIID) chief, said they apprehended four persons, one of them a young woman, for allegedly operating illegal betting stations.

Arrested were Regina de los Reyes, 26; Augusto Arce, 48; Jose Galang, 30; and, Ruben Bautista, 35. All were arrested operating illegal betting stations for horseracing, popularly known as "bookies."

Mantele said the suspects were members of the groups operating illegally in the city and have been under surveillance for a month.

After confirming the illegal operation, Caloocan operatives raided the bookies at around 7:30 p.m. in Pateros Street, Maypajo and Talilong Street, 4th Avenue in the city. Different gambling paraphernalia like dividendazo racing programs were seized from the suspects. – Jerry Botial