Cops raid Quiapo gambling houses

Police have dismantled suspected gambling houses in Manila’s Quiapo district, resulting in the confiscation of gambling paraphernalia and the arrest of 16 bettors and maintainers.

Sta. Cruz police station chief Superintendent Romulo Sapitula said simultaneous operations were conducted last week as part of the intensified drive against illegal gambling to clear the city of vice dens.

Raided were suspected gambling dens at the corner of Soler street and Quezon Boulevard and those located at a vacant lot near the Times Theater. Sapitula noted that most of those patronizing the "color game" at the gambling dens were students.

The gambling den near the Times Theater is located near a barangay outpost. It is allegedly protected by barangay tanods and street thugs.

Police also tore down the galvanized iron fence of the gambling den on Soler street.

Several gambling tables and paraphernalia were seized at the twin raids. They were destroyed on the spot.

Sapitula said the dens operate "kangaroo style," transferring from one place to another if police start to close in.

The color game" operators were identified as a certain "Marissa" and one "Tom Bio."

In a recent meeting with barangay leaders, Sapitula told the officials that they would be held accountable on any discovered gambling den in their area of jurisdiction. "It is the barangay leaders who should be the first to know of any illegal activities in their areas. The barangay and the police should team up to drive away patrons of illegal activities," Sapitula said.

Records showed that since January the Sta. Cruz police has conducted 66 raids on suspected "color games" dens, illegal horse race bookies and "color dice games" dens. The police have also arrested and charged in court a total of 287 bettors and maintainers.