BAYAMBANG, Pangasinan – Authorities here have arrested seven persons, three of whom are village officials, for gambling and drinking liquor amid the extremely enhanced community quarantine in the province.
In an interview Friday, Bayambang town police chief Lt. Col. Norman Florentino said the suspects were nabbed on Thursday in a farm owned by Barangay chairman Ricardo Benitez of Buenlag 1st.
Aside from Benitez, chairmen Renato Rosario of Barangay Tamaro and Romeo Caranto of Barangay Banagan were also arrested.
“Yung dalawang kapitan ay nahuli namin na nagsusugal kasama ang isang sibilyan, habang yung isang kapitan ay nakikipag-inuman kasama yung tatlong iba pa (The two barangay captains with another civilian were gambling while the other barangay captain was drinking liquor with three other civilians),” he said.
Florentino, however, did not identify the four other civilians who were with the barangay officials when arrested.
The suspects are detained at Bayambang Police Station and will be charged with violation of Presidential Decree 1602 (illegal gambling), in relation to Republic Act 11469, or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act. (PNA)
