Man sent by wife on errand to buy fish among 72 charged

The 72 people arrested during for illegal gambling during a volleyball game in Barangay Ermita are being held at the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas gym. | CDN Digital file photo

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Alfonso Mahuway, 49, from Barangay Marigondon, Lapu-Lapu City, was only asked by his wife, to buy fish in Carbon Market when he chanced upon a volleyball game called “dayon-dayon” in Barangay Ermita last Friday, March 6, 2020.

A native of Malabuyoc town, Mahuway got excited as he was familiar with the game.

He then joined the crowd who were then cheering for the heated game.

So it came as a shock to Mahuway when police in civilian clothes arrived and started to arrest the people who were in the area — including him.

Later, Mahuway found out they were arrested for illegal gambling as what the police explained.

Read more: Claims of 72 nabbed for illegal gambling to be probed

Charges filed

On the afternoon of March 9, illegal gambling charges were already filed against the 72 men.

Police Brigadier General Domingo Cabillan, deputy regional director for administration of Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7), told the media in a press briefing, on Monday morning, March 9, that all the men would be charged with violating Presidential Decree 1602 or the Anti-illegal Gambling Act.

Cabillan said that it did not matter whether the betting of the sports were only in smaller amounts as long as there was money involved it became gambling.

He said there were grounds for the arrest because there were other complaints of disturbance coming from the school beside the game area.

“They really qualify as violators,” said Cabillan.

He also said that the barangay officials already warned the players and the spectators about the noise from the games, but they need not heed it.

So these complaints reached the police.

‘Send me buwad’

As for Mahuway, the fish that he bought was forgotten and so was the errand that he made for his wife.

On the first day of his detention, Mahuway got worried because he did not accomplish the errand that his wife asked him to do.

Later that Friday evening, Mahuway received a text that went: “Asa naka ug ang isda? Walay sud-an diri? (Where are you and the fish now? We don’t have food here.).”

It was from his wife, he said.

“Akong gi-ingnan na dalhi na lang kog bulad diri kay naa nako diri napriso nako. Gi dakop mi. Aw perting kuyawa sa akong asawa,” said Mahuway.

(I had to reply and tell her to bring me dried fish because I was arrested. She was shocked and frightened.)

He said his wife arrived later at the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas gym where those arrested were being detained.

She brought food with her.

Mahuway said he was worried that with the arrest he would lose his job and would lose the source of income to feed his family.

Mahuyaw said he was an entertainer that would perform in shows in different towns in Cebu.

He said he already missed one show in Bogo City last Sunday.

He could only hope that when he would be able to post bail and be released that he would still have his work waiting for him./dbs