Massive Illegal Gambling Operation Busted in Tarlac
Around 1,000 people gathered at an events center in San Vicente, Tarlac, lured by the chance to win grand prizes worth P4.5 million. However, police revealed on Tuesday that the large gathering was actually an illegal gambling operation. Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP ACG) acting chief Brigadier General Bernard Yang announced the arrest of 94 individuals involved in the scheme during a press briefing on July 2.
This illegal gambling operation has drawn significant attention due to its scale and the high-value prizes offered. The four-word keyphrase “illegal gambling operation busted” appears early in this report to capture the core of the event.
Details of the Arrest and Charges
Brig. Gen. Yang explained that while many attendees could face charges as bettors or financiers, the police prioritized arresting the operators due to the large number of people present. “Based on the law of illegal gambling, financiers, bettors, everybody present in the venue, can face charges,” he said. “But because we cannot process 1,000 individuals at the same time, we prioritized the operators.”
The arrested include three financiers, 18 administrative staff, 46 head distributors, 19 distributors, and 11 agents. Bail for each arrested person was set at P48,000.
Illegal Gambling Operation Details and Prizes
The illegal gambling used a “tambiolo” or raffle drum system. Participants bought raffle tickets for P20 each, hoping to win major prizes such as a Toyota Fortuner worth P4.5 million (convertible to cash), a business package worth P1 million, a 150-square-meter lot or P1 million in cash, and a wedding package valued at P500,000, alongside multiple consolation prizes.
However, the investigation revealed no legitimate winners. Instead, the so-called winners were members of the corporation’s inner circle organizing the raffle. “Walang totoong nanalo dito,” sources said, indicating the fraudulent nature of the gambling scheme.
Legal Violations and Investigation Process
The group violated Presidential Decree No. 1602, which penalizes illegal gambling, as amended by Republic Act No. 9287. Additionally, the PNP ACG is pursuing charges under Section 6 of Republic Act No. 10175, the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, due to the use of online platforms to promote and manage the operation.
The local government unit tipped off the authorities who began monitoring the illegal raffle since February 2024 through cyber patrolling by the Tarlac Provincial Cyber Response Team. Upon raid, police seized various tambiolos and certificates of appreciation given to distributors and top agents, but found no documents proving the legitimacy of the operation.
Wider Scope and Unauthorized Status
The illegal gambling operation has been active for five years, moving through different locations including Nueva Ecija, Baguio, Bicol, and Pangasinan. It operated without any licenses or permits from regulatory bodies such as the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, Games and Amusements Board, Securities and Exchange Commission, or local government units.
“When we conducted the verification… they did not have any documents that could prove that their operation was legit. There was indeed a violation of law,” authorities confirmed.
For more news and updates on illegal gambling operation busted, visit Filipinokami.com.