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PNP-ACG arrests 94 individuals for alleged illegal gambling in Tarlac

Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

MANILA —  The Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG). said it arrested 94 people in connection with an alleged illegal gambling operation in Tarlac City.Police launched the operation at an event center in San Vicente on Sunday afternoon.Those arrested include three financiers and operators, 43 head distributors, 19 distributors, 11 agents, and 18 administrative staff.According to PNP-ACG director Police Brig. Gen. Bernard Yang, the group was found holding in-person raffle draws without permits or documentation.The raffle is also being promoted online.Yang told reporters in a press briefing at Camp Crame, Quezon City on Wednesday that police had been monitoring the operation since morning and launched the operation at 3:30 p.m. when several consolation prizes had already been raffled off.“Wala silang any document that could prove na legitimate ang ginagawa nila (They had no documents to show it was a legal raffle draw). So, there was indeed a violation of the law,” he added.Operators sold raffle tickets at P20 each, with buyers getting the chance to win prizes worth millions.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/1/gatchalian-wants-stiffer-regulations-for-online-gambling-1612">Gatchalian wants stiffer regulations for online gambling</a></div>Among the prizes were:• A wedding package worth P500,000• A 150-square meter lot worth P1 million• A business package worth P1 million• A Toyota Fortuner worth P4.5 million Yang said the illegal gambling operation has been running for five years, with monthly draws done in provinces like Tarlac, Benguet, Nueva Ecija and Pangasinan.However, no legitimate winner has been officially recorded, with bettors claiming only those in the group&#x27;s &quot;inner circle&quot; won major prizes.“Parang luto na ito… Ang sabi ng mga nandoon ay pangalan lang ang binabanggit. Hindi binabanggit usually ang numbers, ticket numbers.”(It seems rigged. What people said was that winners were called by name, instead of through ticket numbers)He said that there were winners for the consolation prizes, usually boxes of groceries, but that the legitimacy of the draws for the major prizes was questionable.During Sunday’s operation, police confiscated one big tambiolo or raffle barrel, one small tambiolo, one mini transparent tambiolo, certificates of appreciation to be given to the distributors and top agents, and bundles of raffle tickets.Those arrested are facing complaints for violation of Presidential Decree 1602 or illegal gambling in relation to Section 6 of Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.“Napakaganda ng coordination natin sa ating provincial prosecutors. Lahat yun na-indict, so each of the 94 individuals ay may recommended bail na P48,000,” Yang said.(We had good coordination with provinciail proescutors. All of the 94 were indicted, with bail recommended at P48,000)<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/19/palace-says-ph-removing-thousands-of-illegal-scatter-gambling-websites-1645">Palace says PH removing thousands of illegal &#x27;Scatter&#x27; gambling websites</a></div>He said police will file more complaints against those arrested at the venue, where more than 1,000 had gathered.He said that, under the law, anybody at the venue could face raps but that they had to file complaints against the bigger players there first.The law enforcement operation was conducted in coordination with the local government unit (LGU), the Police Regional Office 3 (PRO-3), the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), the Games and Amusement Board (GAB), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).<div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IQZy4hRw6OA?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </div>

Ninety-four individuals were arrested in connection with an alleged illegal gambling operation in Tarlac City, according to the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG).

Ninety-four individuals were arrested in connection with an alleged illegal gambling operation in Tarlac City, according to the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG).

PNP-ACG arrests 94 for alleged illegal gambling in Tarlac

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PNP-ACG arrests 94 for alleged illegal gambling in Tarlac

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 02, 2025 03:12 PM PHT

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Updated July 02, 2025 11:08 PM PHT

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Online gambling

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Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group

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Tarlac

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