Authorities raided alleged illegal gambling dens across Pangasinan province and arrested about 150 people, including a village chairman and a former municipal councilor, after a two-week surveillance operation.

Agents from the National Bureau of Investigation's National Capital Region office carried out simultaneous raids in the towns of Manaoag, Rosales, Urdaneta and Calasiao, as well as in San Carlos City, to prevent suspects from fleeing or destroying evidence.

When the NBI convoy arrived in Manaoag, agents entered the target house under the authority of a search warrant and caught the group while the operation was ongoing. Investigators seized coins, cash and gambling paraphernalia.

“Simultaneous ‘yun para di masunog o. Maburnout ‘yung trabaho. Sakto, nagrerevisa sila ng papelitos, nagaayos sila ng bet, mga taya, naaktuhan natin,” Atty. Jun Dongallo, regional director of NBI-NCR, said.

The raids stemmed from information provided by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, or PCSO, which alerted the NBI to the alleged illegal numbers game operations.

Dongallo said the NBI Special Task Group, NBI-NCR and the NBI Homicide Division conducted two weeks of surveillance before applying for warrants to arrest the suspected bookies.

“Ang nahuli po natin all in all sa limang areas umabot po ng 150 personalities. Nagpapataya rin sila sa mga bahay-bahay, sa mga tao, naglilibot sila using papelitos na hindi sanctioned ng PCSO, nagmimisrepresent sila,” Dongallo said.

Among those arrested were a sitting barangay chairman and a former municipal councilor. Authorities said the barangay chairman will also face a graft complaint.

Dongallo said the illegal operations deprived the government of tax revenues that would otherwise go to the PCSO and the state.

“Ang legitimate po na operation ng gaming, every penny na pumapasok sa gaming operator, may porsyento po yan, buwis na pumapasok sa PCSO o sa gobyerno. Itong mga iligal na ito, walang ganun, so nalulugi ng malaki ang gobyerno,” he said.

The suspects have not issued statements. Authorities said those arrested have been referred for inquest proceedings and may face charges for violating Presidential Decree 1602, the country's anti-illegal gambling law.