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| Vol. XX No. 47 |
January 31, 2001 |
Virac, Catanduanes |
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The Catanduanes Tribune Rawis, Virac Catanduanes, Philippines - 5001 Tel. No.: (052) 811-1267 or 811-2640 Fax No.: (052) 811-1267 E-mail:
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Publisher-Editor Edwin A. Gianan |
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Advertising- Circulation Manager Simeon G. Cueno |
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Web Master: Calgary, Canada |
Major Developments
PNP cracks down on `lotteng'
Three persons, including two `cabos,' were arrested last week as the Philippine National Police here launched a crackdown against people involved in the `lotteng' numbers game.
The apparently serious anti-illegal gambling campaign started last January 22, sometime after alleged `lotteng' and PBA `ending' financier Natalio Popa, Jr. was reportedly summoned to Camp Francisco Camacho by newly-appointed PNP provincial director Supt. Freddie O. Panen.According to a police officer who chose not to be identified, Popa acceded to Panen's `request' for the contractor-gambling maintainer to stop operating the illegal numbers game in Virac and nearby municipalities. Popa reportedly lost his enthusiasm in continuing his operation after two other noted local gambling lords also went into the lucrative `lotteng' business. The source fingered the new numbers game operators as a certain Pura "Tingting" Geromo based at the Virac public market and contractor Rudy "Taruc" Ala of RMA Cable TV.
The campaign started at 6 P.M. of Jan. 22 when a team composed of Insp. Raul Destura, SPO1 Manuel Joson, PO2 Whelming Escaro and PO1 Arlan Sevilla apprehended Rogelio Tabo y Francisco, 39, a tricycle driver from San Jose, San Andres.
The alleged `cabo' for San Andres town, Tabo was on board his tricycle on his way to Virac allegedly to remit his bet collections to Engr. Popa when he was intercepted at Palta Small. Confiscated from him were P816.50 in cash, a ballpen, notebook and `lotteng' paraphernalia showing number combinations and corresponding amount of bets. The team also impounded Tabo's tricycle bearing plate number EF-9604.
Thirty minutes later, the same police team was back at Palta Small where they spotted Ariel Tabo y Borac, 36, married, a resident of Rawis, Virac and also a `lotteng cabo," on board a tricycle bound for Virac.
Upon reaching the vicinity of the Catanduanes State Colleges, Tabo alighted and transferred to his own tricycle with plate number 8402. Before he could run off, the lawmen stepped in and arrested him, confiscating P1,294 in bets and pieces of pad paper detailing number combinations and amount of bets allegedly for remittance to Engr. Popa.
Last Thursday (Jan. 25) at 10 A.M., SPO1 Roger Masagca and PO2 James Ronatay collared Rodel Clemente y Talion, 34, a resident of Gogon Sirangan, while in the act of soliciting `lotteng' bets in the barangay. The two cops found in Clemente's possession PBA `ending' receipts, `ending' cards and P300 in `lotteng' bets allegedly to be remitted at the residence of Rudy Ala, alias Taruc, of barangay Salvacion.
It remains to be seen whether Col. Panen would follow through in eliminating `lotteng' and other illegal gambling activities as only Popa has reportedly ceased operation with `Tingting' and `Taruc' continuing to test the patience of policemen and citizens against illegal gambling.