THE alleged bribery from which money come from a dirty illegal gambling operations allegedly perpetrated by some politicians and apparently dragging the governor’s name in the process is being exposed by retired Col. Teofisto Cabagnot, a “distant” relative of the governor.
He said he called for a press conference to clear his name and that he and his cohorts in the alleged racket did not engage in illegal gambling since he did not have yet a franchise to operate a legal gambling from the Philippine Charity and Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). But he said that he was sanctioned by then a certain PCSO head Garma to play the game as a “test run” in Bohol after he organized his team for the game.
Cabagnot, who has been active 32 years in military service, said, as a soldier “I tell the truth” in exposing the situation of illegal gambling in the province. This he knew for he said he was responsible for organizing his group for legal gambling in 47 towns. Included in his organization is one of the coordinators of the numbers game is the mother BM Mimi Boniel of Bien-Unido town.
The former army officer named some offices of the law enforcement agencies who allegedly received or demanded money as their share from operations, but he called this as protection money since the operations are illegal.
He named police Provincial Intelligence Bureau (PIB), Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), National Bureau of Investigation (provincial and regional NBI offices), police provincial and regional directors, municipal mayors and police chiefs (where illegal operation is conducted) who allegedly demand a cut from the illegal gambling.
Cabagnot said that the regional police director and provincial director asked for about P200,000.00 and P150,000.00 weekly, respectively. The PIB for P100,000.00; NBI, P40,000.00; mayor, P5,000.00 and police chief, P3,000.00 weekly.
He said that “no dice,” meaning that they cannot give to such demands since they’re only authorized to operate in five small towns to operate.
Provincial Police director Col. Lorenzo A. Batuan denied the allegation, calling it a big lie. (Pls see separate story).
Cabagnot, who admitted he was into the legal gambling, called “Peryahan ng Bayan” played in Baclayon town for over ten years, named some of the political figures who are allegedly engaged in illegal swertres in some towns of Bohol.
This writer is withholding the identities of those involved or engaged in the illegal numbers game during the press conference until such time their sides are afforded to be heard.
The said politicians who play the illegal gambling in swertres took advantage by using his name. And he received no share from it, Cabagnot said.
Cabagnot also alleged that the governor got angry when he learned why the aforesaid agencies were not given their “cut.” He explained that he cannot provide money to those agencies since he did not play the legal gambling. (Pls see a separate story on governor’s side).
He said that he was not the source of the list of those politicians and others who engaged in said illegal activity. But it was the NBI thru Atty. Monsanto, who provided the list and he was made to confirm those in the list who are into illegal gambling during the committee hearing of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
The said committee hearing was prompted after Board Member Mimi Boniel-Maglasang, in her privilege speech, brought to the attention of her colleagues the alleged involvement of some Capitol officials.
“Concerned Boholanos expressing disenchantment at the way things are being run by this present administration, highlighting the resurgence of drugs and illegal gambling and insinuating the involvement of high-ranking officials at the Capitol in the illegal number games,” she said.
She said that she had a handwritten letter from Cabagnot and his Certificate of No Objection (CONO) issued by the governor.
CONO is one of the pre-requisites in applying for a franchise to operate a legal gambling.
“I have here in my possession a handwritten letter from Ret. Col. Teopisto Cabagnot, copies of which I am furnishing you, and his CONO (Certificate of No Objection) signifying his desire for us to conduct a probe on the subject to clear his name and to find out the truth regarding this controversy,” Boniel-Maglasang said.
When asked if he received threats when he did not provide the “demands” of the agencies, Cabagnot did not categorically answer the query but he said he has been threatened even while he was in active service, including being a deep penetration agent (DPA), hence, he considered himself with the underground movement. (ricobedencio@yahoo.com)
