By Mar T. Supnad
CAMP BGEN OSCAR M FLORENDO, La Union – At least 173 persons were arrested by the regional police force, which conducted simultaneous raids in nine localities in Pangasinan.
Police regional director Brigadier General Rodolfo Azurin Jr., identified the suspected high-roller as retired Air Force wingman Efren Ricafort Fajardo, a former councilor of San Fabian town, and now an incumbent barangay captain.
Fajardo is allegedly behind the illegal gambling syndicate operating in at least 30 localities in the province.
Seized during the “Operation Plan High Roller” simultaneously conducted in nine Pangasinan localities include P862,665 bet money in different denominations.
• Calasiao — P274,985
• Mangatarem — P778
• San Jacinto — P67,120
• San Fabian — P276,462
• Malasiqui — P169,854
• Asingan — P320
• Dagupan City — P205
• Binmaley — P60,522
Azurin said Fajardo, a graduate of PMA Class of 1993, was a former member of Philippine Air Force (PAF).
In a message, Azurin said that the massive crackdown of illegal gambling is part of the PRO1’s initiative to stop illegal gambling in Region 1 in compliance to the President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to end illegal gambling in the country.
“Our police will continuously conduct relentless operations like this to prevent the proliferation of illegal gambling activities,” he added.
Since the declaration of Enhanced Community Quarantine last March 16, 2020 in Luzon, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office suspended all gaming activities to include small town lotteries and Peryahan ng Bayan which was also concurred by the IATF.
The suspects are under police custody pending the filing of appropriate charges.