An alleged maintainer of an illegal gambling outfit codenamed “Ching”, who
is a relative of top government officials in Negros Occidental, was
sentenced yesterday to a maximum six-year imprisonment term after he pleaded
guilty for violating Republic Act 9287, also known as the amended
anti-illegal gambling law. Meted such penalty by Kabankalan Regional Trial
Court Judge Henry Arles after having been found guilty beyond reasonable
doubt was Vicente Zayco, alias Nene Pinoy.
Arles also sentenced Zayco’s four companions identified as Renato Garcia,
Gene Gomez, Val Sanchez and Randy Jompilla, all bet solicitors of the
illegal gambling outfit “Ching”, to a maximum of three years of
imprisonment. The Oct. 20 raid at the residential compound of Zayco, a first
cousin of Vice Governor Isidro Zayco and Kabankalan City Mayor Pedro Zayco,
was conducted by virtue of search warrants issued by Judge Roberto
Chiongson. It yielded P2,553 in alleged cash bets, assorted gambling
paraphernalia, ammunition of various calibers of firearms and an ICOM
hand-held radio. Arles said the accused, assisted by their counsel, Alex
Abastillas, pleaded guilty to the offense, which was done voluntary on their
part, and not through threats or intimidation, induced by any prize or
reward.
Vice Governor Zayco and Mayor Zayco earlier said they are keeping their
hands off the illegal gambling case involving their cousin. Mayor Zayco who
is against any form of illegal numbers game, had also warned Vicente several
times in the past to put a stop to his illegal activities. Supt. Roderick
Alba, Kabankalan police chief, said the court also issued an order placing
the convicted persons under the custody of their counsel, pending approval
of their application for probation.