The Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) has now every reason to believe that suspected illegal gambling bet collectors also double as drug pushers after five persons were arrested and were found with shabu last Wednesday.

During their anti-illegal gambling operation Wednesday evening, the ICPO's Anti-Illegal Gambling Task Force, together with Iloilo City Police Station 3 and ICPO Special Operations Group (SOG), arrested Elpedio Jabat, 38; Rolly Pabillo, 42; George Bernardo, 21; Meriam Jabat, 42; and taxi driver Armando Jabat, 50, all residents of Brgy. Simon Ledesma, Jaro, Iloilo City for their alleged "bookies" activities.

Although living in the same village, the suspects denied knowing each other.

Chief Inspector Gilbert Gorero, Jaro police chief, said members of the ICPO Anti-Illegal Gambling Task Force have been conducting monitoring operations against the group.

"We established that they have been remitting bets and cotejos at Simon Ledesma Street," he said.

Elpedio, Pabillo, Bernardo, and Meriam then boarded a Melvin Taxi driven by Armando.

As police operatives were about to entrap the suspects, Armando sped off going to Brgy. Ma Cristina where they were stopped by a police force.

They were then ordered to go out of the taxi but one of the suspects allegedly tried to pull a firearm, prompting policemen to break the taxi's windshield and force open the cab's door.

Recovered from the suspects were cash amounting to P15,050.

When frisked, Elpedio was yielded with three sachets of suspected shabu and a caliber .40 pistol while Armando was confiscated with six sachets of shabu, an improvised tooter and a disposable lighter.

Elpedio reportedly presented a license for his gun but failed to show a permit to carry firearm outside of residence.*