THE Philippine Racing Commission (Philracom) and the various horse-racing clubs expressed their appreciation to the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) in its efforts to rid horse-racing of illegal bookies.
In a thanksgiving lunch tendered by the Philracom for the GAB, led by its Chairman Abraham Kahlil B. Mitra and his Commissioners, Philracom Commissioner Andrew A. Sanchez said that the fight against illegal bookies/gambling is a goal by all stakeholders of the sport.
Upon the request made by GAB Chairman Mitra, the National Bureau of Investigation has already apprehended 17 individuals involved in illegal bookies in three separate entrapment operations conducted in different parts of Manila in May alone. Three were arrested in a Quiapo raid last May 12, while 12 were nabbed in Valenzuela last May 18. Two more were arrested in a Sampaloc raid last May 24.
“Illegal bookies eat up revenues that could have gone to the national coffers, so the arrest of these illegal operators will send a message that the stakeholders mean business in this fight,” said Mitra.
Aside from Sanchez, present for the Philracom during the lunch were Philracom commissioners Lyndon Noel B. Guce, Atty. Wilfredo J.A. De Ungria and Bienvenido C. Niles, Jr., together with Executive Director Dr. Andrew Rovie M. Buencamino.
Representing the horseowners were Antonio V. Tan Jr., Metropolitan Association of Race Horse Owners Director; Emmanuel A. Santos, Philippine Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Organization President; and Ferdinand D. Dimaisip, former Klub Don Juan de Manila President.
Joining Chairman Mitra were his peers Atty. Ermar U. Benitez (Chief, Legal Division), Eduard B. Trinidad (Commissioner), Matthew P. Gaston (Commissioner) and Estela O. Nimedez (Chief Sports and Games Regulation Officer).
The GAB is mandated to combat and prevent the existence and proliferation of illegal bookie joints and other forms of organized illegal gambling connected with all play-for-pay sports and amusement games.
In order to stay true to its mandate, the GAB ensures that all OTBs and OCBs follow the rules of the government on permits and licenses.
On the other hand, the Philracom is the governing and regulating body of horse racing in the Philippines, tasked to to promote and maintain efficient and unbiased operation of racing exclusive of the supervision of betting therein; and raise public confidence in the sport.