Court slaps man with 10 years for gambling

He acted as staff for an illegal numbers game financier: reports

JUDGE Soliver Peras of the Regional Trial Court Branch 10 convicted a man from Cebu City for his involvement in the illegal numbers game in 2013.

Peras, also the Cebu City RTC executive judge, found Oscar Neri guilty of violating Republic Act 9287, or the Illegal Numbers Game.

Peras sentenced Neri to a jail term from 10 to 11 years and four months.

“Perusing on the tes- timonies of the prosecution witnesses, this court observes the same to be categorical, spontaneous, direct and without any contradiction, to be given credit and full faith by this court,” said Peras in his seven-page decision.

Police arrested Neri for acting as a “staff” of the illegal numbers game’s financier in Barangay Punta Princesa, Cebu City last Feb. 8, 2013.

He was caught in the act of tallying illegal num- bers game combinations.

Also seized from Neri’s possession were P1, 171 worth of bets and several gambling paraphernalia.

In his testimony, Neri said he was merely visiting a friend in the police station when authorities arrested him on allegations of participating in gambling.

He said his friend was jailed due to his alleged participation in the illegal numbers game in their ba- rangay.

In the decision, Judge Peras gave credence to the testimonies of the prosecution.

“The court observes that the testimony of the accused are mere denial which were uncorroborated by other competent witnesses,” said Peras.

Peras also ruled that the prosecution’s evidence is sufficient to establish the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt.