16 nabbed in alleged illegal online raffle in Biñan

Sixteen suspects were arrested for alleged involvement in illegal online raffle operations in Biñan, Laguna.

According to a 24 Oras report by Chino Gaston on Wednesday, a search warrant was implemented by the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group in the middle of their livestream.

This led to the arrest of seven women and nine men.

According to the PNP-ACG, online raffles are illegal under the PD1602 or law against illegal gambling.

“Illegal po ‘yan dahil wala silang permit sa PAGCOR, sa GAB,” said PNP ACG chief Police Colonel Jay Guillermo.

(That’s illegal because they don’t have a permit from PAGCOR, from GAB)

Authorities were able to seize a white motorcycle intended as a prize for the raffle.

They also seized printed tickets with images of the raffle participants, live streaming gadgets, and a tambiolo used to randomize tickets.

The suspects are now detained at the PNP Cybercrime Headquarters in Camp Crame and refused to comment.

In 2023, the PNP-ACG and PAGCOR also conducted an operation against an online raffle being held in Bataan that was able to collect up to P1.6 Million per raffle and up to P80 Million overall.

“It’s a game of chance. Actually, maraming tumataya and it is run by teenagers, mga kabataan. Ang pinakamatanda nga dito ay 27 years old. [It is] unregulated. Walang nagsu-supervise [and]who knows kung niri-rig nila ‘yun [at] walang taxes,” said PAGCOR Senior Vice President for Security and Monitoring Enforcement Group Raul Villanueva.

(It’s a game of chance. A lot of people gamble and it is run by teenagers, the youth. The oldest here is 27 years old. [It is] unregulated. No one supervises [and] who knows if they’re rigging it [and] there’s no taxes.)  —NB, GMA Integrated News