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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Bacolod: Lacson supports NBI probe vs officials linked to illegal gambling

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Bacolod City – Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson over-the-weekend backed the ongoing probe of the National Bureau of Investigation into barangay officials linked to illegal Small Town Lottery operations in Negros Occidental.

“If the NBI has a really strong case, so be it,” Lacson said.

Three barangay captains, one in Bacolod City and two in Kabankalan City, tagged by the NBI as financier or protectors of illegal STL operations in Kabankalan City, have been charged in court for violation of RA 9287, known as illegal gambling.

NBI Bacolod Chief Atty. Renoir Baldovino disclosed that they will also furnish the Department of Interior and Local Government, copies of the complaints filed against the three barangay captains.

Why should we operate an illegal numbers game, when there is also a legitimate numbers game in Negros Occidental? Lacson asked.

Lacson said he is supporting the cases filed by the NBI against three barangay captains for their alleged links with the illegal operation of STL in Kabankalan City.

He even encouraged the NBI to continue their probe on other barangay officials, and filing cases against them, especially if there is strong evidence against them.

Jose Manuel Villagracia, PCSO provincial manager, earlier wrote Lacson, Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer, Kabankalan Mayor Benjie Miranda, and 31 barangay captains of Kabankalan City to appeal for support for the authorized operator of STL in the province.

Villagracia said that PCSO designated Super Beagler, Inc. as the STL Authorized Agent Corporation (STL- AAC) in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City.

He further stressed that the STL- AAC “are the only entities or persons authorized to operate and conduct STL in their respective areas of operations.”

“Please be advised that STL operations in the province of Negros Occidental, other than that of Super Lucky Beagler, Inc., are illegal, such as the ‘New STL’,” Villagracia pointed out.

Lacson said that he met with Villagracia, saying “Whatever he told me I have to keep to myself.” He added that the NBI investigation is “moving forward.” (Gilbert Bayoran via The Visayan Daily Star (TVDS), photo courtesy of TVDS)

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