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The National Bureau of Investigation has raided an illegal gambling venue that was masquerading as an amusement arcade in Makati City, resulting in the arrests of 35 individuals. The raid was made following confirmation by the bureau of the complaint made against the venue and obtaining a warrant of search from the Makati City Court.
Raided Site And Arrests
According to the NBI, 26 of those arrested were Japanese nationals. The remaining 9 were Filipino employees of the supposed arcade at the Goraku Amusement Center inside The Gallery Building, the bureau said in a statement on Monday.
The raid was conducted by the NBI’s Dangerous Drugs Division, which first received a complaint about the activity inside the establishment. After verifying the information, the bureau applied for a search warrant, which was granted on July 16. The warrant was then used in the raid.
The NBI’s Office for Transnational Crime Division also joined the Dangerous Drugs Division in the operation because of the number of people arrested. The bureau said the joint effort was needed, given the scale of the case.
Evidence Seized At Site
During the operation, NBI agents confiscated 103 illegal slot machines, special gambling equipment, and payment scheme ledgers. These were seized in connection with the probe conducted regarding the supposed gambling operation disguised as an amusement arcade.
The bureau said the establishment had been presented as an arcade, but the evidence gathered during the raid supported its view that the site was being used for illegal gambling. The confiscated materials are now part of the case against those arrested.
The raid added to the bureau’s broader enforcement work against illegal gambling activity, particularly where operations are hidden under the appearance of other businesses.
Charges Under Illegal Gambling Law
The arrested suspects are currently in NBI custody and are facing criminal charges for allegedly violating Presidential Decree No. 1602, which sets stiffer penalties for illegal gambling. The bureau said the case remains under its custody as proceedings move forward.
The operation also shows how enforcement agencies continue to target gambling activities that are allegedly concealed inside legitimate-looking commercial venues. In this case, the NBI said the site was made to look like an amusement arcade, but was actually being used as an illegal gambling establishment.
With 35 people arrested and a large number of slot machines seized, the Makati raid now forms part of the bureau’s continuing crackdown on unlawful gambling operations in the city.
Source: Inquirer.net
