RSOG8 scores vs. “swertres”

By RPCRD, Police Regional Office 8
October 17, 2012

CAMP SEC. RUPERTO K. KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte  –  The Regional Special Operations Group 8 (RSOG8) of the Police Regional Office 8 arrested 6 persons, including a minor, in a series of anti-illegal gambling operations in different parts of the region recently.

“These accomplishments showed our firm commitment to make Eastern Visayas an illegal gambling-free region”, Police Regional Director Police Chief Superintendent Elmer Ragadio Soria said, while commending RSOG for the successful police operations.

The Regional Director added that that there has been no let up in the campaign against “swertres” even as he reminded ground commanders to intensify their anti-illegal gambling campaign and on the PNP’s “One Strike and No Take Policies”.

Soria identified the arrested suspects as Jerry Malinao y Layog, a resident of Brgy Crossing, San Isidro Leyte who was arrested together with a minor; Armando Banalo Hidalgo, 80, married of Brgy Abgao, Maasin City; Wedan Ponferada y Pestilos of Brgy Liberty, Mayorga, Leyte, Anthony Apura y Apable, a resident of Brgy. Songco, Borongan City and Julie Ramos y Calvario from Brgy. Hindang, Borongan City.

Malinao and the minor (name withheld) was arrested about 8:00 o’clock in the evening of October 15 at Brgy Crossing, San Isidro Leyte by joint elements of RSOG8 and Regional Public Safety Battalion 8 (8th RPSB) led by SPO3 Nelson Lapeciros while engaged in collecting bets for illegal numbers game operation locally known as “swertres” from different ushers. The team recovered from his possession and control 118 pieces of Philippine Lotto swertres results; 22 pieces of yellow pad with different number combination and bets with different dates; 14 white bond paper with different number combination and bets with different dates; 15 pads of stubs with different number combinations; black ballpen; and cash bet amounting to P1,035.00 in different denominations.

Meanwhile, at  about  2:00PM  of  October  15, joint elements of RSOG 8  led by SPO1 Jonathan Ladrera, 8th RPSB and Maasin Police Station nabbed Hidalgo while collecting bet for “swertres” inside the wet market of Brgy Combado, Maasin City.  Recovered from the violator are swertres tip dated October 15, 2012, one booklet stub with different number combinations dated October 15, 2012 and a black ballpen.

In Mayorga, Leyte, RSOG arrested Ponferrada in Brgy. Liberty while in the act of collecting bet money for swertres. Confiscated from his possession are bet money amounting to P500.00 in different denominations; 10 pieces tally sheets; 1 unit Samsung mobile phone and 1 unit green Honda Wave 125 motorcycle used in his illegal activity.

RSOG also conducted anti-illegal gambling operations in Borongan City in Eastern Samar resulting to the arrest of Apura and Ramos who were caught in the act of collecting bets for “swertres” at Brgy. Songco. Recovered from the suspects were illegal numbers paraphernalia composed of 2 booklets of stub containing different number combinations; and cash bet in different denominations amounting to P225.00.