Former mayoralty bet, 15 others in jai-alai operators watchlist

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines  — There are now at least 15 illegal jai-alai operators in the watchlist of the Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office (NOPPO).

Senior Supt. Allan Guisihan, NOPPO director, said those in the watchlist have been monitored as far as the campaign against the illegal numbers game is concerned.

Guisihan also confirmed that Joaquin Bilbao, a former candidate for mayor in Hinoba-an town, was among those in the list.

The CIDG recently served a search warrant on Bilbao but was not arrested because he was brought to the hospital due to hypertension.

Bilbao claimed, however, that the house searched by the CIDG was his mother's and not his. He denied the charges against him, adding that he will file counter charges against the arresting officers.

Guisihan said the 15 operators were identified personalities who have been operating jai-alai in their areas and continuously placed under surveillance by police operatives in the area.

"These do not include yet the financiers," he said, as he stressed that there is no let-up in their campaign against illegal gambling.

He issued a standing order to his policemen to continue running after persons involved in illegal jai-alai.

The police's one-strike policy is still being enforced and police stations chief who will be found remiss of their duties will be relieved, he said. (FREEMAN)