Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno arrested for illegal gambling

Manila Vice Mayor Francisco Domagoso, popularly known as former actor Isko Moreno, along with five councilors, were arrested on Saturday for allegedly involving in illegal gambling.

The politicians are said to have engaged in gambling by sponsoring a bingo game which attracted some 500 people in Manila's Blumentritt area, a report from the Inquirer said.

The re-electionist Moreno was picked up by members of the Manila Police District (MPD) together with other allies: Councilors Jong Isip, Joel Chua, Benny Ang, Yul Servo and Maria Asuncion Fuguso.

Moreno is the running mate of former President Joseph Estrada, who will run as Mayor in the country's capital city.

Moreno and the councilors were detained at the Quiapo station and were to undergo routine medical checkups before the inquest proceedings at press time, the report said.

Moreno said they were manhandled by the policemen and claimed they were just talking to their supporters since Commission on Elections (Comelec) chair Sixto Brillantes said such meetings were not prohibited at the time.

Estrada arrived at the station and spoke with the detained politicians for about 30 minutes. He denounced the arrest as "pure political harassment."

Moreno and the councilors were discharged past midnight for lack of evidence, but Supt. Ricardo Layug, commander of the MPD's Quiapo station, said the case against the detained politicians are still up for further investigation.

Appears at: Reyn's Room

Posted in: 2013 Elections,Election 2013,Isko Moreno,Joseph Estrada,Manila Vice Mayor,News,Yul Servo