Police name councilman as illegal gambling financier

CEBU, Philippines - Police arrested three women who were caught in the act of engaging in illegal numbers game inside what police claimed was the house of a barangay councilor in Katipunan St., Barangay Labangon last Thursday night.

Chief Insp. George Ylanan, who heads the Regional Special Operations Group 7, said the subject of the operation was supposedly Labangon barangay councilman Rudy Tabasa, but the latter was not around during the raid.

Ylanan said Tabasa is in their list of financiers of illegal numbers game.

But Tabasa in an interview denied the charges. He said he was surprised about the report.

“Nahibong gani ko ngano naapil akong ngan nga financier daw ko.” He admitted he was in the business before, but he stopped when he was elected to the barangay council.

He also stressed that it was not his house where the policemen came for the arrest. He also said he no longer has a relationship with the woman the police arrested.

After receiving a complaint about the proliferation of illegal gambling in the area, RSOG operatives proceeded to the house and arrested his alleged live-in-partner Maria Mercedez Dagatan, 53, Mira Dosdos, 56, and Marilyn Ursal, 48.

Dagatan was reportedly caught receiving tally sheets while Dosdos and Ursal were the ones tallying the illegal numbers game locally known as Masiao and Suertres.

Aside from the arrest, police also seized gambling paraphernalia such as fax machines, fax papers, ballpens, calculators, stub sheets, record books, tally sheets, bundle of fax papers containing combinations of Masiao and Swertres numbers, and notebooks, among others.

Ylanan identified Tabasa as one of the personalities in their watchlist who reportedly finances the said illegal numbers games.

The RSOG chief said they have been serious in their campaign against illegal gambling as per directive of Police Regional Office 7 Director Marcelo Garbo. They are currently running after the financiers.

Tabasa is the ally of Mayor Michael Rama and the recipient of the City Hall’s newly purchased vehicle that was not issued to Labangon Barangay Captain Victor Buendia.

Rama admitted that Tabasa is his supporter, but he said he is not answerable if the barangay official is involved in illegal gambling.

The mayor shook his head when reporters asked him whether he heard reports that Tabasa is operating masiao in Labangon.

“Mas grabe na’ng uban diha kay nakigkuyog-kuyog og mga tawo nga nalambigit g’yud sa illegal nga sugal,” Rama said, although he did not elaborate.

According to Rama, he will not tolerate and protect his supporters who will be arrested for illegal activities.

Meanwhile, in a separate operation, RSOG operatives also arrested an alleged level two drug pusher in his house in Barangay Lorega-San Miguel at 4 p.m. last Thursday.

Ylanan identified the suspect as Russ Aquino, 43, whom he said is a bigtime drug peddler operating in Barangay Lorega-San Miguel and its neighboring barangays in Cebu City.

Aquino was arrested by virtue of a warrant of arrest for violation of the Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act issued by Regional Trial Court Judge Enriqueta Belarmino.

Aquino, formerly a commercial basketball player, can dispose 200 grams of shabu everyday, Ylanan said.

The suspect, who didn’t resist arrest, is now detained at the PRO 7 lock-up cell.  (FREEMAN)