Five swertres ushers arrested

CEBU, Philippines — Five persons were arrested by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-7 in different areas of Cebu City in line with their intensified campaign against illegal gambling.

The operation that started around 8 p.m. last Sunday in barangays Talamban and Pulangbato resulted in the arrest of Mary Kris Ranque, Rengel Obida, Johnrey Atamosa, Almerah Usman, and Junnalyn Lunogan.

According to Police Major Ronald Allan Tolosa, deputy regional chief of CIDG-7, the arrested suspects served as ushers in the illegal numbers game commonly known as “swertres.”

“Sila g’yud ang gapataya mismo, sila ang mga ushers, ilang participation,” he said.

Tolosa said that the rampant operation of swertes in Metro Cebu might be because of the fact that the suspension of the operations of legitimate small-town lottery operations in the city has not yet been lifted. However, he added that the Peryahan ng Bayan was authorized by the PCSO to operate with the administration of Global Tech.

“Isa na sa isa sa ginatagaan nato ug mas lawom nga imbestigasyon nga masabtan nato ug kinsa g’yud ‘ning mga operators nga nagpaluyo ani,” Tolosa said, referring to the swertres operators.

He added that they still have to investigate since these illegal operators function in many levels and they need to build up a case.

Tolosa added that they have received several reports, especially from authorized gambling operators, that swertres is rampant in the mountain barangay of Cebu City.

Tolosa also added that these illegal gambling operations proliferate in the mountain barangays because their operators think they are safe from authorities there.

One of those arrested later told reports he didn’t know that their operation was illegal as he thought his operation was under Global Tech. (FREEMAN)