A total of 27 personnel of various “Peryahan ng Bayan” outlets in three towns on Monday were arrested during anti-gambling operations carried out by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) which has been tapped by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to go after illegal Small Town Lottery (STL) operators.

Operatives from the NBI’s Central Visayas Regional Office, assisted by NBI Bohol, apprehended the Peryahan ng Bayan collectors through “bet-bust” operations in Getafe, Talibon and Cortes, said NBI Bohol director Atty. Renan Oliva.

“Gi-test buy namo permiro. Upon confirmation na namaligya sila, among gi-bet-bust sila. Gi-da namo ang mga namaligya ug mga gi-gamit nila sa pag-pamilgya—stubs, apps, including the proceeds. These will be inventoried, accounted for, ‘nya dad-on sa Prosecutor’s Office,” he added.

Arnel Pura, NBI Special Investigator on illegal gambling, said that the operations against Peryahan ng Bayan of GlobalTech Mobile Online Corporation stemmed from a complaint raised by Scorpio Games and Amusement Corporation, the exclusive authorized “agent corporation” to conduct STL games.

Operations under GlobalTech meanwhile were deemed illegal as the firm’s contract with the PCSO has been terminated.

“Nakita nila na rampant kaayo ang operations ng Peryahan ng Bayan ng GlobalTech mao ng nangayo sila’g tabang sa among head office sa Manila,” said Pura.

The three towns, Getafe, Talibon and Cortes have been pinpointed as hotbed of illegal STL operations particularly administered by GlobalTech.

Authorities have identified at least 52 betting outlets operated by GlobalTech in Talibon alone, Pura said.

However, Retired Marine Major Manuel Fraginal Sr., chief of the PCSO-Nationwide Inter-Branch Security Monitoring, earlier noted the presence of illegal STL operations in more towns including Alburquerque, Baclayon, Catigbig-an, Corella, Cortes, Panglao, and Sikatuna in the First District; Bien Unido, Garcia-Hernandez, San Isidro, President Carlos P. Gacia and Talibon in the Second District; and Bilar, Carmen, Dimiao, Jagna, Lila and Sierra Bullones in the Third District.

The location of a number of “Peryahan ng Bayan” betting stations drew the ire of Fraginal after an ocular inspection around the province showed that some of the outlets were conspicuously located along major roads and public places in the province, and were likely visible to local government officials and police.

“We have collated all our findings in a database and has submitted the names of the mayors and police officers to the Office of the President whom we believe are lining their pockets with the illegal profits from these “Peryahan ng Bayan” operations,” Fraginal said in an earlier interview. (RT)