POLICEMEN have arrested 73 Chinese and three Filipinos for involvement in illegal online gambling during a raid in Sta Ana town in Cagayan on Tuesday night.
Cagayan Valley regional police office director Brig. Gen. Crizaldo Nieves on Wednesday said the raid, which occurred at around 9:30 p.m. at the Villa Saturnina Hotel and Resort in Barangay Rapuli, was conducted by virtue of a search warrant.
Seized were 48 laptop computers, eight desktop computers, a mother server, two inverters, eight extension wires and one router which the suspects were using for their illegal operation.
Nieves said the suspects used the OFA Cagayan Estate Developer Corporation, owned by a Frank Yu, as front for their illegal activity. The company has no permit or license to engage in online gambling activities, Nieves added.
“During the conduct of police operation, the owner of the said corporation Mr. Frank Yu was not present in the said place and will be subjected to police operation,” a police statement said.
“The arrests of the said Chinese nationals were part of our intensified campaign against illegal gambling as part of our all-out war against all forms of illegal activities in Region 2,” said Nieves.
Meanwhile, a member of a crime group was arrested by operatives of the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group in Silay City in Negros Occidental on Tuesday afternoon.
AKG spokesman Maj. Ronaldo Lumactod named the suspect as barangay kagawad Remy Belandres of barangay E. Lopez in Silay City, and member of the Otso Oros Gang involved in robbery, cattle rustling, gun-running and gun-for-hire activities in the province.
Lumactod said Belandres was arrested at Hacienda Teresita in barangay E. Lopez by virtue of a search warrant for violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
Recovered from his possession were a cal. 45 pistol, a 12-gauge shotgun, assorted ammunition, and P1.8 million in cash.
