BUTUAN CITY: The Police Regional Office in the Caraga Region (PRO-13) arrested 454 violators in its intensified drive against all forms of illegal gambling from January to early July this year. In a report on Friday, PRO-13 said some PHP213,789 bet money and gambling paraphernalia were also confiscated from the arrested suspects during the period. 'The PRO-13 is committed to continuing the drive against all forms of illegal gambling as we also ask the cooperation of the people and the communities,' PRO-13 director, Brig. Gen. Alan Nazarro said in a statement. Nazarro said the eradication of all forms of illegal gambling remains important, noting that these affect the individual lives of the residents and the economic development of the region. During the period, 238 operations against illegal gambling were conducted by the different stations and units of PRO-13. The arrested violators were involved in illegal fruit games, video karera, illegal numbers games like swertres, last two and last three, illegal cockfighting locally known as "tukis-tukis," illegal card games known as 'tong-its', and other forms of illegal number or dice games. PRO-13 said the top two offices with the highest number of arrests include the Surigao del Sur Police Provincial Office (PPO) with 190 violators and the Agusan del Sur PPO with 102. 'I urge the public to immediately report to the nearest police station any occurrence of illegal activity such as illegal gambling in your localities,' Nazarro said. Source: Philippines News Agency