15 arrested in separate illegal gambling operations in La Union

Police arrested 15 people in separate anti-illegal gambling operations in the towns of Tubao, Agoo and Santo Tomas, La Union, on Tuesday, Oct. 20, after catching them allegedly participating in unauthorized games of bingo, mahjong and tong-it.

The three operations resulted in the confiscation of cash bets and gambling paraphernalia, according to police reports.

In Tubao, eight people, all unemployed residents of the municipality, were arrested after police caught them allegedly playing bingo during an operation conducted from 2:30 p.m. to 3:10 p.m.

Personnel of the Tubao Municipal Police Station confiscated P1,300 in bet money in various denominations, along with gambling paraphernalia.

The arrested individuals, whose ages ranged from 29 to 47, were brought to the Tubao Rural Health Unit for medical examination following their apprehension.

In Agoo, four men aged 52, 62, 63 and 74 were arrested during an anti-illegal gambling operation conducted from 4:40 p.m. to 5:20 p.m.

Personnel of the Agoo Municipal Police Station caught the suspects allegedly playing mahjong and seized a set of mahjong tiles and P434 in cash bets.

The four men, all residents of Agoo, were placed under police custody for proper disposition.

Meanwhile, in Santo Tomas, three women aged 27, 30 and 36 were arrested during an operation conducted by the Pugo Municipal Police Station from 3:30 p.m. to 3:50 p.m.

The suspects, all residents of Santo Tomas, were allegedly caught playing tong-it, a popular Filipino card game, when police conducted the operation.

Authorities confiscated a set of plastic playing cards and P977 in cash bets in various denominations.

Police said the seized items in the three operations were inventoried and documented in accordance with established procedures, with the required witnesses present during the inventory.

The arrests were made for alleged violations of Presidential Decree 1602, which prescribes penalties for illegal gambling.