Four suspects allegedly involved in illegal swertres were arrested in two police operations in Panglao on Wednesday amid the government’s crackdown on unauthorized gambling.

Panglao and Provincial Intelligence Branch policemen conducted the operation after receiving reports on suspected illegal gambling activities in villages of the town.

Authorities identified the nabbed suspects as Linda Cloma, 36; Teofilo Pillo, 68; Rodrigo Monteron, 40 and Edgardo Clarabal, 51; all residents of Panglao.

Two of the arrests were made in Barangay Poblacion at 7 p.m. where police collared Cloma and Pillo.

The suspects were caught in possession of assorted illegal swertres paraphernalia, police said.

Forty-five minutes later, the operatives arrested Monteron, an alleged illegal swertres bettor, and Clarabal in a nearby village after receiving another tip from residents.

The suspects are detained at the lock-up jail of the Panglao police pending the filing of cases against them.

Earlier, Philippine National Police chief Dir. Gen. Ronald dela Rosa issued a directive to the Bohol Provincial Police Office (BPPO) to boost its drive against illegal gambling in the province.

BPPO director Senior Supt. Felipe Natividad admitted on Tuesday that illegal gambling activities remained rampant in the province.

However, Natividad noted that even before dela Rosa’s directive was issued, he had already launched an intensified campaign against unauthorized gambling such as illegal Swertres in Bohol.

The BPPO has been coordinating with municipal and barangay officials as part of its bid to eradicate illegal drug and gambling activities including unauthorized swertres and cockfighting, said Natividad. (Allen Doydora and Rey Tutas)