The Department of Justice has set a formal investigation of Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno and five city councilors who were arrested at a bingo game in February for illegal gambling.
Assistant state prosecutor Gerard Gaerlan, who is in charge of the case, said the preliminary investigation will be on May 9 and 10, Sun Star Online reports.
Moreno along with city councilors Asuncion Fugoso, Joel Chua, Ernesto Isip Jr., and Yul Servo Nieto, were arrested on February 16 for sponsoring a bingo game. Under Marcos-era Presidential Decree 1602, any form of gambling without a franchise from the national government is considered illegal. Moreno has said bingo has been exempted from Presidential Decree 1602 by a newer law.
Moreno and the councilors were released the next day but the case was referred to the DOJ instead of the Manila Prosecutor’s Office to avoid partisanship.
Moreno is running for vice mayor under former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada, incumbent Mayor Alfredo Lim’s rival for city hall.
