The Southern Police District (SPD) has arrested four individuals involved in illegal gambling and seized suspected shabu and an unlicensed firearm during the operation in Makati City on Monday night, 29 June.

At around 6:45 p.m., personnel of the Makati City Police Station's Poblacion Sub-Station were conducting an anti-criminality patrol along Makati Avenue corner Valdez Street, Barangay Poblacion, Makati City, when they caught a group of individuals in the act of playing cara y cruz.

The operating personnel immediately converged on the area, resulting in the arrest of four suspects identified as alias Melanie, 44; alias Bong Bong, 48; alias Joffrey, 24; and alias Edgardo, 57. Several other participants managed to escape before they could be apprehended.

Recovered from their possession were cash bets totaling P1,250 and three one-peso coins used as flippers in the illegal gambling activity.

The operation further yielded one heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing approximately 0.03 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated standard drug price value of P204, seized from alias Melanie.

Also confiscated from alias Bong Bong was one caliber .38 revolver loaded with three live caliber .38 ammunition, for which he failed to present any pertinent legal documents.

The four suspects are now facing charges for violation of Presidential Decree No. 1602 (Illegal Gambling), Section 11, Article II of Republic Act No. 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and Republic Act No. 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, as applicable.

The appropriate complaints are being prepared for filing before the Makati City Prosecutor's Office. NEIL ALCOBER