Barangay officials of New Lower Bicutan caught a bunch of residents gambling in a dark and cramped alley on Sept. 28.

Before the incident, the barangay tanods were making rounds on Pinagkaisa Street when they came across three residents playing bingo cards at the backstreet’s passage. Right after, the officers went to the area where they immediately witnessed a group of gamblers, estimated to be 50 residents, hiding in a narrow, dead-end passage.

Joyce Ann Bergado, one of the players, said that there might be someone from the neighbors who told the officers to check the alley, which revealed the gambling operated in a hideous alley.

“Akala kasi nila konti lang kasi yung nakalabas na tao ay tatlo lang. May nagturo siguro na taga-rito na puntahan doon [eskinita], eh nandoon kami lahat,” she said.

Bergado added that the officers only reminded them to hide away the cards once they saw barangay officers approaching their gambling spot.

She and her colleagues were also involved in doing the same thing back in 2021, wherein the patrolling officers spotted them playing bingo at midnight. During the encounter, Bergado left her cell phone on the table after she escaped with her colleagues.

“Panatag kami na walang dadating tapos bigla na lang nandyan na. Kahit yung cellphone ko na nakalatag doon sa mesa, nakuha ng barangay,” Bergado said.

She was accompanied by her fellow elderly bingo player, Lilia, to the barangay hall, where she recovered her phone.

“Maganda naman kasing mag-bingo minsan, nakakatanggal ng problema pero huwag naman talaga yung araw-araw,” she explained when asked on what benefits she gets from gambling.

Bergado shared that her bet only runs from P10 to P20, far from the amount her companions gamble, which usually ranges from P60 to P120.

“Sugal na talaga ‘yun kapag marami ang taya, parang bisyo na yun eh. Kapag libangan naman, siguro hanggang sampu o bente lang ang taya, ganoon lang,” she argued.

Ten years have passed since the group of bingo players was formed in Pinagkaisa, but their passion and enthusiasm for playing bingo cards still lingers. The number of members continues to increase due to other residents joining the game and inserting themselves into the group, which strengthens the gambling operation.

Bergado revealed that Maricel Magtalas was their group’s founder, who also recently passed away due to health complications. After her death, someone took Magtalas’ role and continued the legacy she left behind.

“Si Judith Contreras na ngayon ang nag-aaya na maglaro. Nagagalit ‘yan siya kapag tumatanggi ka sa Bingo, sasabihin niya mapera ka na kaya ayaw mong sumali,” Bergado said.

Contreras is one of the members who keeps and gets a portion of their tongs. Bergado considers this a factor in Contreras’ eagerness to force the members into playing bingo because her share from tongs relies on the number of players.

She also said that the tongs they accumulated throughout the year will be allocated for the raffle prizes of their Christmas Party.

“Kahit patay na ang founder, tuloy pa rin ang pangako sa December, may pabingo,” she said in a lively tone.

The group has been caught gambling twice this year, and yet the barangay officials have not taken any legal actions against them. Until now, they are still operating every day at the same place where barangay officers once spotted them.