Calabarzon cops crack down on ‘tupada’ operators
POLICE Regional Office 4-A director, Brigadier General Eliseo DC Cruz on Tuesday said he has ordered an intensified crackdown against ‘tupada’ and other illegal gambling operators in Calabarzon region.
“We’re fully implementing the directive of Philippine National Police chief, General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar to go all-out against all illegal gambling activities,” the PRO4-A director told the Journal Group.
Cruz said their most recent anti-tupada raids in Laguna and Batangas led to the arrest of 10 ‘tupada’ personalities.
Agents from the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and Batangas Police Provincial Office under Colonel Glicerio Cansilao arrested Victoria Acuzar, a suspected ‘tupada’ operator in Barangay Hilerang Kawayan, San Pascual.
Three men acting as bet collectors for Acuzar were also arrested during the raid which resulted in the confiscation of P1,620 worth of bet money, two live fighting cocks, two gaffs or ‘tari’ and four scratch fences.
Another raid in Bgy. Langgam, San Pedro City, Laguna resulted in the arrest of Herald Patricio, suspected ‘tupada’ operator and six others.
Recovered from the suspects were two fighting cocks, P4,100 in cash bets, five gaffs and four gaff covers.
Cruz said he has ordered the Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon police offices to continue their operations against illegal gambling dens as well as operators and bettors in the region.
“We are mobilizing all our units in coordination with the PNP CIDG to go after these individuals,” he said.
The arrested suspects have been charged with violation of Presidential Decree 449 as amended by PD 1602 otherwise known as the anti-illegal gambling law.
Cruz said that since last May 10, they have already apprehended 1,518 individuals as result of their crackdown on illegal gambling activities in the region.
