MikeLigalig.com

Reported by Kit Bagaipo
The Bohol Chronicle

Operations of the illegal numbers game 'swertres' remain unabated here with an estimated daily proceeds of P1.2-million.

This despite a renewed campaign by Bohol Police Director SSupt. Edgardo Ingking against financiers, coordinators and ushers.

The action of SSupt. Ingking followed after he denounced the smear campaign lodged against him claiming that he sent an emissary to 'swertres' financiers to demand "protection money" from them, which he strongly denied.

Here in Tagbilaran City, there are at least eleven known financiers whose operators and runners extend its network to the neighboring towns.

Sources revealed to the Chronicle yesterday that a bigtime financier here in the city has an average daily collection from bettors of P500,000.

From this amount, the financier will net at least P300,000 less the winnings of bettors, allowances to coordinators, commission to ushers and operational expenses.

Another financier has an average daily gross proceeds of P150,000, of which he nets around P80,000.

Some smalltime operators riding on the popularity of the illegal numbers game has average gross receipts of P20,000 to P30,000 daily, the source revealed.

One known financier is operating in at least six nearby towns.

In every town, the financier has assigned four coordinators who are also handling 15 to 25 ushers each, the source said.

Each usher gets a 35-percent commission from the total amount he has solicited from bettors.

If a bettor wins, the usher will get 10-percent of the winnings.

GUERRILLA-TYPE OPERATIONS

'Swertres' replaced the popular numbers game 'masiao' which also uses three-digit combinations.

However, 'swertres' results are based on the legal draws of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

The popularity of the 3-digit numbers game has even prompted the PCSO to hold two draws every day.

According to reports, 'swertres' operators are accepting bets for the two draws in almost all of the 47 towns.

Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Bohol team leader P/Insp. Germano Mallari bared to the Chronicle that some financiers have resorted to a "guerrilla-type" of operations transferring from one town to another to elude arrest.

'UNTOUCHABLES'

SSupt. Ingking admitted it is difficult to arrest 'swertres' financiers who are virtually "untouchables" since they are not directly involved in the operations.

With modern communications, financiers can monitor field operations through cellular phones and receive remittances through electronic banking.

According to SSupt. Ingking, it is easy to identify the financier but difficult to catch them red-handed.

Even if the field operators are often the ones arrested, the illegal betting will not stop unless the financier themselves are apprehended.

Two years ago, City Mayor Dan Lim called all suspected operators and financiers and warned them to stop its operations in the city.

Betting went down for a while but then proliferated again.

A former 'swertres' operator bared to the Chronicle that there are allegedly members of the police force who ask for protection money from them.

The source said he pays P1,500 to P3,000 to the policemen, depending on the turnover of bets.

SSupt. Ingking told the Chronicle that he already requested PNP Central Visayas director C/Supt. Ronald Roderos that a region-based campaign against 'swertres' be carried out.

The provincial police chief admitted that the 'swertres' operation here is "deeply rooted and widespread" which "cannot be solved by police action alone."

In fact, SSupt. Ingking disclosed the existence of an organized illegal gambling operation here.

IDENTIFY COPS INVOLVED

SSupt. Ingking said a series of symposia is being organized in all the towns spearheaded by the chiefs of police, the Municipal Local Government Operations Officer (MLGOO) and the local chief executives themselves.

SSupt. Ingking said policemen will be made to declare publicly during the symposium their stand against 'swertres' and any form of illegal gambling.

As of yesterday, police chiefs in the towns of Baclayon, Loay and Sevilla have already called a meeting with suspected financiers and operators.

A public declaration, will pressure policemen to stop and join the fight against any form of gambling.

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