Police display the P750 in bet money and three one-peso coins allegedly used as flippers (pangara) seized from five bettors arrested during a raid on an illegal "Cara y Cruz" game in Barangay Payatas, Quezon City. (Photo courtesy of QCPD)
Five men were arrested in Quezon City after police raided a “cara y cruz” coin-toss game along Everlasting Street in Barangay Payatas shortly after midnight on Thursday, July 16.
Operatives of the Payatas Bagong Silangan Police Station (PS 13) responded to an E911 report and caught the suspects playing in public at around 12:21 a.m.
The suspects were identified only by their aliases "Rod," 53, of Barangay Bagong Silangan; "Edi," 33; "Runo," 23; "Dan," 57; and "Mar," 45, all residents of Barangay Payatas.
Police recovered P750 in bet money and three one-peso coins allegedly used as flippers, or pangara.
Police said "Rod" has previous records for violations of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, in July 2024 and Presidential Decree No. 1602, or the Anti-Illegal Gambling Law, in March 2026.
"Edi" also has previous records for violating R.A. No. 9165 in January 2019, July 2021 and May 2024, and P.D. No. 1602 in April 2023, September 2025 and May 2026.
Meanwhile, "Mar" has a previous record for violating P.D. No. 1602 in April 2025.
The five suspects will face charges for violating P.D. No. 1602 before the Quezon City Prosecutor's Office.