TUGUEGARAO CITY – The vice mayor of an Isabela municipality, two police officers and six others were arrested for illegal gambling by joint elements of the Cagayan Provincial Police Office and Tuguegarao City Police on Saturday in Barangay Pengue-Ruyu here.
Reported arrested was Maconacon, Isabela Vice Mayor Jolly Taberner, Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel Maconel Pascua and Christine Ruiz, and Pete Laggui, owner of the house where the illegal gambling was allegedly being held in Barangay Pengue-Ruyu.
Also arrested were Gerry Adducul, a retired PNP member; Marlene Bautista, an employee of the Department of Agriculture in Region 2 (DA-2); Pedro Baggay, Jayson Allam, and Grace Laggui.
Cagayan PNP Provincial Director Col. Ariel Quilang said Taberner and the eight others were nabbed at the second floor of Peter Laggui’s house playing mahjong at around 2 p.m. The suspects were taken to the police station for further investigation.
Apart from the gambling paraphernalia, also confiscated from the suspects were Taberner’s caliber-.45 pistol which was loaded, and betting money.
The conduct of the anti-illegal gambling operation was witnessed by Barangay Kagawads Edgar Buquel and George Pagunuran of Barangay Pengue-Ruyu.