Bohol Governor Erico “Aris” Aristole Cabagnot Aumentado
By DAVE SUAN ALBARADO
Bohol Governor Erico “Aris” Aristole Cabagnot Aumentado finally spoke out on the issue of illegal gambling in the province, but dodged to address the accusation that he is allegedly receiving payola money from illegal swertres operators.
In a Facebook post on the night of March 8, 2024, Aumentado reaffirmed his directive to the Philippine National Police (PNP) to intensify the campaign against illegal gambling activities.
He did not respond to the claim of retired Col. Teofisto Cabagnot, the governor’s cousin, that the governor, along with mayors, police officials, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) personnel, are beneficiaries of payola money.
Aumentado said that Cabagnot confirmed his position that only the legal version of swertres, which is franchised by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), will be allowed in Bohol.
“Angayan lamang nga akong ipahinumdumpag-usab nga sa akong State of the Province sa nilabay nga tuig, akong gihatagan og dakong importansya ang atong kampanya batok sa illegal nga Swertres ug uban pang klase sa ilegal nga sugal. Atong gihatagan og mando ang pwersa sa PNP [Philippine National Police] Bohol Police Provincial Office, ubos sa pagdumala ni PCOL. Lorenzo Batuan, nga mag-organisa og mga operasyon ug taposon na ang maong kanser sa katilingban,” Aumentado wrote in his post.
He said that around 100 operations were conducted in the first two months of 2024, aimed at curbing illegal gambling in Bohol.
He added that he will continue to uphold a clean government and will not spare anyone involved in illegal gambling, even if they are his allies or relatives.
He also asked the NBI to investigate the illegal gambling syndicate in Bohol.
“Makapasalig ang inyong Kagamhanang Probinsyal nga magpadayon ang atong mga paningkamot nga makab-ot sa probinsya ang kalamboan pinaagi sa hinlo nga pagdumala, epektibo nga serbisyo publiko, inklusibo nga pagsaka sa atong ekonomiya, ug labaw sa tanan, pagbutang sa kaayuhan sa mga Bol-anon sa atong gobyerno,” he said.
Aumentado’s statement came after several days of silence on the allegations raised by Cabagnot.
Aumentado was in Berlin, Germany, to represent Bohol in a tourism trade show when the issue became viral on social media and radio.
The governor repeatedly denied that he wanted to operate an illegal numbers game in Bohol.
Cabagnot, meanwhile, exposed the names of people allegedly involved in the illegal swertres operation in Bohol.
He appeared at a Sangguniang Panlalawigan committee hearing on March 4, 2024 and held a press conference afterwards, where he implicated the governor and several others as recipients of payola and operators of illegal numbers games in Bohol.
BATUAN DENIES GAMBLING LINKS
The provincial director of Bohol police, Col. Lorenzo Batuan, has denied any involvement in illegal gambling and accused a retired colonel of being the real operator.
Batuan made the counter-allegation against retired Col. Teofisto “Titoy” Cabagnot, who had earlier claimed that Batuan was receiving P150,000 per week as protection money from illegal gambling syndicates.
In a press conference at Camp Francisco Dagohoy on March 7, 2024, Batuan said he had known Cabagnot as an alleged illegal gambling lord since 2006. He also called Cabagnot “botboton”, a local term for a liar.
Batuan said he wanted to ignore Cabagnot’s accusations, but he had to respond to the public outcry. He added that he waited until the funeral of Cpl. Gilbert Amper, a policeman who was killed in a drug bust, before addressing the media.
Batuan also said that he had received clear instructions from the governor to eradicate illegal gambling in the province, even if it meant going after the governor’s relatives or allies.
BATUAN DARES CABAGNOT TO PRESENT EVIDENCE
Col. Batuan has denied accusations that he was receiving protection money from illegal gambling operators in the province.
In a press conference at Camp Francisco Dagohoy on March 7, 2024, Batuan said he has never been involved in illegal gambling, nor has he ever asked for or received payola from swertres operators.
“Botbot nang istorya. Kung gusto ka (referring to Cabagnot) magatubang ta ug magtinulisokay ta ug mata, kinsay namakak natong duha,” Batuan said, challenging his accuser to a face-to-face confrontation.
Batuan added that he would not tarnish his reputation as a police officer or disgrace his family by engaging in such corrupt practices.
He also revealed that he met with Gov. Aumentado, who ordered the police to intensify the campaign against illegal gambling and spare no one, even if they are the governor’s political allies.
The governor’s directive came after Cabagnot, a former swertres operator, exposed the names of some officials allegedly involved in illegal gambling in Bohol.
According to Cabagnot, who held a press conference on March 4, 2024, among those who were receiving payola were the governor, the mayor, the chief of police, the Provincial Intelligence Branch, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, the National Bureau of Investigation, and the provincial director.
Cabagnot claimed that the payola ranged from P3,000 to P150,000 per week, depending on the position and the demand of the official. He also said that even the legal swertres operators had to pay prosecution money to avoid harassment from the authorities.
Meanwhile, the Bohol Police Provincial Office (BPPO) spokesman Lt. Col. Norman Nuez said that he persuaded Batuan to address the issue publicly, as the allegations could damage the police’s image and erode the people’s trust.
Nuez confirmed Batuan’s denial and criticized Cabagnot for making baseless and malicious accusations.
“Ang iyang [Batuan] tubag, NO gyud, certainly no. Bakak ug dili tinuod ang allegasyon nga gibuhian ni sir Cabagnot,” Nuez said, quoting Batuan’s response.
Nuez urged Cabagnot to present his evidence to the proper investigative bodies, instead of creating scenarios that could undermine public confidence in the police.
Nuez also confirmed that at least two chiefs of police were relieved from their posts for their alleged involvement in illegal gambling.
He said that Batuan ordered a serious crackdown on illegal gambling in Bohol, and warned that anyone caught violating the law would face the consequences.
Nuez said that such negative news about the Philippine National Police could affect the morale of the rank and file police officers, who are working hard to maintain peace and order in the province.
TOLOY EVASCO AND LEON CALIPUSAN REACT
Former Cabinet Secretary Leonio “Toloy” Evasco and former Loboc Mayor Leon Calipusan are planning to sue former Colonel Teofisto “Titoy” Cabagnot for accusing them of being involved in illegal gambling in Bohol.
Cabagnot, in a press conference on March 4, 2024, named Evasco and Calipusan as among the operators of an illegal numbers game in the province. He also alleged that most of the operators were allies of Governor Aumentado.
Evasco and Calipusan denied the allegations and said they would file libel cases against Cabagnot.
Cabagnot claimed he verified some of the names from a list prepared by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). However, he admitted he did not know one of the names on the list, Nelson Pon, who was supposedly involved in illegal gambling.
Cabagnot said he decided to expose the illegal gambling activities after Aumentado, his relative, accused him of being the mastermind behind illegal gambling in Bohol.