Nine individuals were arrested by police after they were caught engaging in illegal gambling and violating quarantine protocols inside a resto-bar in Caloocan City on Wednesday evening (July 1).
Police said among them was the establishment's manager, Maricel Elijedo, 50. The others were identified as Christopher Ramos, 43; Vicson Lamadrid, 45; Reinerio Kuizon, 35; Arman Mariano, 50; Delfin Pasia, 37; Arnold Palicpic, 63; Mario Ramos, 57; and Danilo Paulino, 57.
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of the Philippine National Police said the operation was conducted at a resto-bar along M.H. Del Pilar St. in Barangay 106 around 6 p.m., after Inter-Agency Task Force co-chair Karlo Nograles received a letter of complaint from a concerned citizen.
During the operation, police caught the arrested individuals playing billiards and betting a "huge" amount of money.
"Wala silang thermal scanner...wala silang footbath, wala silang alcohol na nilalagay sa kamay ng mga customer. At wala silang physical distancing sa loob (They had no thermal scanner, they had no foot bath, they had no alcohol to put on their customer's hands. And they had no physical distancing inside)," Lt. Col. Dennis Rodiguez, head of CIDG-CAMANAVA, said in a GMA News interview.
"Nakita namin may nagsusugal...at malaki yung pustahan nila (We saw them engaging in illegal gambling and placing huge bets)," Rodriguez added.
Recovered from the arrested individuals were three billiard cue sticks, billiard balls, and P9,640 cash.
They will be charged for illegal gambling and for violating the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act and Caloocan City's ordinance related to physical distancing, police said.