Bautista orders eradication of illegal numbers games

MANILA, Philippines - Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista has ordered law enforcers and concerned agencies to conduct operations to totally eradicate illegal numbers games in the city.

“We must stop the proliferation of these illegal activities, which could destroy the lives of our citizens,” Bautista told The STAR.

He warned those supporting the operators of illegal numbers games, including government employees, to think twice.

 “We will find you and we will file cases against you,” he said.

Bautista also appealed to Quezon City residents to refrain from participating in illegal numbers games, saying these are counter-productive to the efforts of the government – particularly of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) – in curbing such activities.

Bautista urged Quezon City Police District director Chief Superintendent Joel Pagdilao and city business permits and licensing office head Garry Domingo to conduct activities to eradicate illegal numbers games in the city.

An illegal numbers game is defined as “any form of illegal gambling activity that uses numbers or combinations thereof as factors in giving out jackpots.”

It includes games such as jueteng, masiao, and last two, among others.

Operators of these games do not have the necessary PCSO license and permit from the local government. Part of the profit from legal games such as lotto and perya ng bayan go to government charity projects.

Even bettors face penalties

Based on Republic Act 9287, which set higher penalties for holding illegal numbers games, even bettors could be imprisoned for up to three months.

The jail term depends on the level of participation in the operation of illegal numbers games: personnel, including those who allow the use of their vehicles or house, may get up to eight years; collector or agent, up to 10 years; coordinator or supervisor, up to 12 years; and manager or operator, up to 14 years.

Financiers or capitalists may be jailed up to 16 years, while protectors and coddlers of illegal number games may face 20 years.

Second offenses would also warrant higher penalties.

The law specifically notes that possession of any gambling paraphernalia and other materials used in the illegal numbers game operation shall be deemed prima facie evidence of any offense covered by the measure.

Any government official caught participating in the conduct of an illegal numbers game would face the full force of the law and may be fined P3 million to P5 million.

“The accessory penalty of perpetual disqualification from public office shall be imposed upon any local government official who, having knowledge of the existence of the operation of any illegal numbers game in his or her jurisdiction, fails to abate or to take action, or tolerates the same,” the measure added.