Vlogger, 7 others nabbed over online car raffle

A vlogger and his seven companions were arrested by the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) in Balanga, Bataan for hosting an online car raffle without a permit.

According to a "24 Oras" report by Emil Sumangil on Friday, the group does not have a permit from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation for its online activity.

“Bakit ba pinagbabawal ng batas kung wala tayong license? Basically because, wala tayong hahabulin. Pag wala silang permit, wala kayong assurance. Para malaman niyo, go to their websites,” PNP-ACG spokesperson Captain Michelle Sabino said.

(Why does the law prohibit it if it doesn't have a license? Basically because we cannot run after the group. If it does not have any permit, you have no assurance.)

Police seized the vloggers’ desktop and laptop computers, mobile phones, tables and routers used for the livestream as evidence.

Also confiscated was a tambiolo or a lottery drum used to draw the winners of the online raffle.

According to the PNP-ACG, there are a number of cases of online raffle draws where prizes were not delivered to the winners.

“Meron kasi tayong mga cases, wherein yung mga famous bloggers and celebrities na nage-endorse example ganyan, raffle etcetera na hindi nila nake claim yung prize… Panawagan natin sa mga bloggers, endorsers, celebrities, personnel… medyo marami kayong followers, maging responsible kayo sa ine-endorse natin,” Sabino said.

(We’ve had cases wherein famous vloggers and celebrities endorse raffles  where the prizes couldn’t be claimed… For the vloggers, endorsers, celebrities,… you have many followers, be responsible with what you endorse.)

The suspects will be facing charges for violating Republic Act 1602 or illegal gambling.

Further investigations will be conducted to determine if there are other individuals or groups behind the vloggers.—Jiselle Anne Casucian/LDF, GMA Integrated News