70 arrested for playing, betting in illegal 'dayon-dyaon' volleyball game
By Calvin Cordova
CEBU CITY — At least 70 persons were arrested in an illegal volleyball game locally known as “dayon-dayon”.
“The game becomes illegal when the players and spectators start to place bets,” said Police Capt. Romeo Caacoy Jr., chief of the Regional Intelligence Division-Central Visayas (RID 7).
“At least P30,000 in bets were seized during the operation,” said Caacoy.
Caacoy stressed there was nothing wrong with playing the sport as long as there was no money involved.
But Caacoy also pointed out that those arrested were holding the game in an open area near a private school in Barangay Ermita, and it disturbed the classes.
“The school was already complaining because of the noise. They had this masyador (bet caller) who was shouting for bets,” said Caacoy.
“Dayon-dayon” is patterned after a volleyball game, but with only three players each side, instead of the six in a regular game.
The arrest was conducted last Friday night and the arrested persons had to spend three nights at the grand stand of the Camp Sergio Osmena Sr. Headquarters since the prosecutor’s office is closed on weekends.
Caacoy said the arrested persons will be formally charged Monday for violating Presidential Decree 1602.