The National Bureau of Investigation arrested two persons believed to be part of a gambling syndicate for illegally posing as Small Town Lottery (STL) operators in the vicinity of the Libertad Public Market in Bacolod City shortly before noon on Friday, August 5, NBI Bacolod chief Renoir Baldovino said.
Nabbed were Reynne Magbanua Lopez and Arjens Arro Esbida of Bacolod City, who are facing charges for violation of Presidential Decree1602 as amended by Section 3 Paragraph C of Republic Act 9287, an act increasing the penalties for illegal numbers games, Baldovino said.
Baldovino said the NBI raided the operations of the two at corner Libertad and Mabini streets for posing as STL operators without a franchise or permit from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and accepting bets.
The NBI received intelligence information on the illegal operations, which prompted the raid, he said.
He said they are also investigating the presence of similar illegal gambling operations in Bacolod and Negros Occidental, which have a financier.*