Eight individuals arrested by the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) during a raid on an illegal billiard betting operation inside Commonwealth Market. (Photo: QCPD)
Eight individuals were arrested and three unlicensed .45-caliber pistols were seized when the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) raided an illegal billiard betting den inside Commonwealth Market on Monday, April 20.
QCPD operatives conducted the operation following surveillance of reported illegal gambling activities.
Acting on intelligence reports, operatives of the District Special Operations Unit (DSOU) carried out the raid at around 8:30 p.m., catching the suspects allegedly engaged in illegal betting.
Three suspects were found in possession of unlicensed firearms: a two-tone Para Ordnance .45 pistol with a magazine loaded with eight live rounds, a two-tone Taurus Millennium .45 pistol with eight live rounds, and a silver Colt .45 pistol also loaded with eight live rounds of ammunition.
Authorities also recovered three mobile phones, three sling bags, three cue sticks, a set of billiard balls, a whiteboard used for recording bets, and cash amounting to P1,100.
The arrested suspects were identified as Aristotle, 40; Alvin, 40; Edmon, 44; John, 26; Antonio, 39; Calid, 26; Abdullah, 39; and Asnawi, 42, all residents of Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City, except Edmon, who is from Camarin, Caloocan City.
Records showed that Alvin and Antonio had prior violations of Presidential Decree 1602 (Anti-Illegal Gambling Law) in 2022 and 2021, respectively, while Asnawi had a previous case for violation of a smoke-free environments law in 2018.
Charges for violation of Presidential Decree 1602 will be filed against all eight suspects before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office.
Calid, Abdullah, and Asnawi will also face additional charges for violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.