Four suspects were arrested during an alleged illegal gambling session in which shabu was reportedly being used as the betting pot, following a police operation linked to the investigation into the theft of equipment inside the Senate of the Philippines.

Personnel of the Pasay City Police Station's Substation 1 (CCP Complex) arrested alias "Itik," 31, and alias "Beverly," 41—both previously identified in the Senate theft investigation—along with alias "Genie," 45, and alias "Leoven," 48.

The suspects were apprehended Monday afternoon, Aug. 3, along New Road, Diokno Boulevard, Barangay 76, Pasay City.

They were charged with violating Presidential Decree No. 1602 (Illegal Gambling) and Section 13, Article II of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, for possession of dangerous drugs during parties, social gatherings, or meetings.

The operation stemmed from the continuing investigation into the theft of equipment and office supplies belonging to Congress TV Media of IBC-13 inside the Senate of the Philippines.

Investigators had been pursuing alias "Itik" and alias "Beverly" after a witness allegedly identified them as the individuals who sold portions of the stolen property previously recovered by police.

Before officers could locate the pair through the ongoing investigation, a concerned citizen reported an ongoing cara y cruz gambling session in the area.

Acting on the tip, police discreetly verified the information and caught the four suspects allegedly engaged in the illegal gambling activity.

Authorities recovered P500 in bet money, gambling paraphernalia, and two heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing suspected shabu weighing about 0.70 gram, with an estimated standard drug price of P4,760.

The investigation revealed that the suspected illegal drugs were allegedly being used as the betting pot during the gambling session, resulting in an additional charge under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

Police said the arrest also marked a significant breakthrough in the Senate theft investigation, as the apprehension of alias "Itik" and alias "Beverly" enabled investigators to further resolve the burglary and theft incident inside the Senate compound.

The four suspects are now undergoing inquest proceedings before the Pasay City Prosecutor's Office, while the recovered evidence has been turned over to the concerned investigating units for further case build-up.