Bacolod City – The National Bureau of Investigation is conducting a probe on alleged links of a former elected government official and two incumbent barangay captains in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, to illegal gambling.
NBI – Bacolod chief Atty. Renoir Baldovino said they have already issued subpoenas to Joel Alibango and Franz Leonard Seguiro, chairpersons of Barangays 5 and 6, respectively, in Kabankalan City, and two illegal gambling operators he identified only through their aliases, Ma’am and JR Basinello.
Based on affidavits issued by arrested bet solicitors Renante Berioso and Rida Ayala, Baldovino said they confessed of having remitted bet collections to Ma’am and JR Basinello.
Two other gambling bet solicitors nabbed by NBI operatives in Kabankalan City, were Janet Postur and Glen Benigay.
Additionally, their investigations reveal that the two barangay captains held a meeting in a barangay hall with bet solicitors, who were allowed to collect gambling bets in their respective barangays, in the presence of Ma’am and JR Basinello, the NBI chief further revealed.
Baldovino withheld the identity of a former elected official, who, according to information they got, gathered almost all barangay captains in Kabankalan City and told them that the authority of Super Lucky Beagler Inc. (SLBI) to operate the Small Town Lottery (STL), is about to expire.
“We have the identity, but we need more proof, before identifying the former elected official,” he added.
Based on the documents issued by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Baldovino clarified that the authority to operate STL by SLBI has already expired.
If others claim that they are also allowed to operate STL, they are illegal, he said, stressing that SLBI is the sole firm authorized by PCSO to operate in such betting game.
The two barangay captains of Kabankalan City are expected to appear at NBI – Bacolod Office on February 22 and 23.
Also charged with violation of RA 9287, or illegal gambling, were suspects identified as Jonalyn Repique, Lovella Vallejera, Euinice Venus, Phemirose Garcia, who were arrested by the Kabankalan City Police Station. (Gilbert Bayoran via The Visayan Daily Star (TVDS), photo courtesy of TVDS)
