Eight people, including five beneficiaries of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) and the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), were arrested after allegedly gambling “Pusoy” amidst a modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) in Nueva Ecija.
Authorities raided the alleged gambling den in Brgy. Abar 2nd, San Jose City, yesterday dawn.
According to Police Lt. Col. Heryl Bruno, chief of the San Jose City Police, four of those arrested received SAP cash assistance while one was a 4Ps member.
Bruno identified the SAP beneficiaries as Mark Lester Anthony Clemente, 26; Joseph Gaspar, 34, married; Liza Ombrobeno, 60, married; and Lolita Garcia, 68, married; 4Ps member Edmon Biendima, 47, married; and another colleague William Lomboy, 30; Jonathan Arataquio, 18; and Renalyn Pascua, 31, married; all are residents of Brgy. Abar 2nd, of the said city.
According to the report, police received information that a gambling activity was going on in the area. When they raided it at around 1 am they caught the suspects busy playing at two “Pusoy” tables with cards and bet money.
Police confiscated two sets of cards, eight pieces of chairs, two tables, and bet money totaling P1,957 in various denominations. The suspects will face charges of violating P.D. 1602 and violation of curfew due to existing MGCQ in the province.
Also read: DILG: 649 individuals, including 260 gov’t officials charged over SAP anomalies
2nd tranche of SAP distribution near completion
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is confident that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) would complete the second tranche of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) this week.
According to DILG Undersecretary and Spokesperson Jonathan Malaya, they have already solved the previous problems encountered in the distribution of the first tranche of SAP in May, so the payout of the second wave of such assistance is expected to be faster now.
He said the distribution of the second tranche, including Metro Manila, would start Monday, and he hoped that by the same day, many cash aid beneficiaries would be receiving help from the government.
Beneficiaries only need to coordinate with DSWD and local government units (LGUs) to determine when to start SAP distribution in their locality.
Among those receiving SAP’s second tranche are those who received the first tranche in some regions, as well as some 4.2 million homes not provided with the first tranche.