Three family members were arrested on Saturday after they were found gambling using the gov’t cash aid at their home in Laoag City. A man in Cavite meanwhile used the financial assistance to buy shabu.
The suspects were caught in the act of gambling outside their house in Sitio 2, Barangay 37, Calayab, Laoag City.
P372 cash bets on gambling and cards were obtained from the two women and one man. The two female suspects admitted that they had obtained P5,500 from the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s social amelioration program, which is intended to be used amid the COVID-19 crisis.
The three will face charges in violation of Presidential Decree 1602 or Anti-Gambling Law.
Drug user buys shabu after receiving gov’t cash aid
A man in Bacoor, Cavite, pleaded guilty to receiving P6,500 from the social amelioration program to buy shabu.
In the ’24 Oras’ report, Clark Jerel Navalta, a construction worker, explained that he used shabu during the height of the community-enhanced quarantine community in Luzon.
He said he only took P150 from the cash aid and used it to buy shabu.
“Bumili po muna ako ng groceries po tapos kumuha po ng mga halagang P150 lang naman po ‘yon at nag-drugs po,” said Navalta.
(I first bought groceries, then I took 150 pesos for the drugs.)
“Kasi may extra po ako sa construction, pinapa-extra po ako dun sa banda sa amin. Kaya sinubukan ko po na kumuha para magkalakas lang ng konti,” he further explained.
(Because I have extra work in the construction. So I tried to use to gain a bit of strength.)
Also read: 10 arrested for watching alleged cockfight in Mandaluyong
10 arrested for using P3K cash aid in gambling in Nueva Ecija
Authorities arrested ten people, including four women who were caught gambling amid enhanced community quarantine in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija, only a few hours after the local government distributed P3,000 cash aid in the said city.
The suspects were nabbed after their neighbor reported the illegal gambling activity, said Col. Renato Morales, chief of Palayan City Police.
Those arrested include construction workers Angelo Diongco, Roldan Viado, and Daniel Onia; vendors Marilou Guerra and Gregorio Guerra; and student Garry Gatbunton.
Rogelio Gonzales, Tessa Sanchez, Theresa Onia, at Marites Guerra, 59 were also arrested.
In a social media post, Palayan City Mayor Adrianne Mae Cuevas expressed her disappointment because the arrested residents prioritized gambling over food using financial assistance from the government.