Volleyball bettors charged for illegal gambling (Sabong News)
Author
Iris Hazel M. Mascardo
Date
MARCH 10 2020
CEBU, Philippines — More than 70 persons who were allegedly involved in illegal gambling of volleyball with bets were formally charged yesterday afternoon.
Police Brigadier General Domingo Cabillan, Deputy Regional Director for Administration of the Police Regional Office (PRO)-7, said that they have filed the case of PD 1602 after they have confiscated money used as bets, which was used as grounds in the filling of the illegal gambling case against them.
“At the same nadi-distract yung mga estudyante kay makita man nila nga sigeg dula ug volleyball. So, what makes it illegal is yung may betting. Parang sabong ba na may masyador na may nag-kolekta ng bets versus sa kabilang team. Mao ng naka illegal, besides sa nuisance sa area,” Cabillan said.
The arrest came after a school administrator complained that the games have already distracted students during class hours.
Those arrested were transported to the city prosecutor’s office for their inquest proceedings after being detained for almost three days at the PRO-7. They were arrested last Friday.
Cabillan said the amount placed as bet does not matter since the money involved is enough grounds for illegal gambling in relation to PD 1602.
“Wala na sa amount as long as may act of betting and may recovered na evidences and may mga tao, ay pasok sila sa violation na yun,” he said.
“They shouldn’t show it in public, ang volleyball game unta is for physical fitness recreation. Kung may betting na nakikita na sa publiko, that is already a violation. Besides, if naka-create na sila ng nuisance doon sa area, daghang magreklamo sa ila,” he added.
The authorities were criticized online for allegedly picking on the volleyball game which is supposed to be a leisure activity. But Cabillan said they are just doing their job in addressing the complaint and that they have enough grounds in doing the arrest.
“They were already warned by the barangay officials and in fact yung mga barangay officials para bang nagsumbong na rin sa kapulisan dahil napuno na rin sila na dili sila tuohan. Nagpadayon ang ilang dula mao ng giakasyonan sa atong kapulisan,” Cabillan said.
The venue of the volleyball game, which has been going on for months, is just in front of the school. The game was said to be distracting students during class hours.
Prior to the operation, Cabillan has said that they have placed the area under surveillance for a week.
At present, Cabillan has encouraged the barangay officials to take off the volleyball net in the area as it has been the root cause of the betting.
He, however, said that they can transfer it to the other areas, minus the betting this time.
