Gambling financier, 3 coordinators fall

CEBU, Philippines - The police arrested an alleged illegal gambling financier and his three coordinators in an operation in Bogo City Saturday morning. Operatives of the Provincial Intelligence Branch led by SPO1 Francis Alen Villamor arrested Necesito "Nesing" Melendres of Barangay Pulangbato, Edwin Amores and Feliver Lubon, both of Barangay Poblacion, and Bernardo Dotosme, of Barangay Ilihan, Tabogon. Villamor said they received reports that illegal gambling is rampant in Bogo City and Melendres is one of PIB's top three targets. After monitoring Melendres' activity for two weeks, they implemented an operation that resulted in the arrest of the four suspects. They did not resist. Villamor said Amores is also in their watchlist of illegal gambling coordinators. Confiscated during the operation were tally sheets with different number combinations, tip sheets, gambling paraphernalia, P6,158 cash, a Honda XRM motorcycle (OF-6981) and a Mitsubishi Adventure (YEC-771). Dotosme and Lubon are considered newbie coordinators of Melendres and are not yet in the watchlist. Villamor added that based on their surveillance, they found that Melendres had been operating for 15 years in the towns of Tabogon and San Remigio. Operatives find it a hard to arrest Melendres as the group does not stay in one place. "Magbalhin-balhin man gud ni sila ug asa magkita kay kahibalo man sila nga dakpunon. Usahay sa Bogo, usahay sa laing lugar," Villamor said in a phone interview. The police had to monitor the group's meeting places before they launched the operation. With the arrest of the suspects, police are now expecting lesser illegal gambling activities in northern Cebu. "Muhinay ang illegal gambling sa pagkasikop ani nila pero padayon gihapon ta sa operation," Villamor said. The suspects are now detained at the Consolacion police stockade pending filing of appropriate charges at the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor's Office today.