A 28-year-old bachelor arrested for illegal gambling wept in his cell, overcome with longing for his mother. The suspect, identified only by the alias "Mak-mak," was caught playing the illegal numbers game "hantak" at around 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 28, 2026, in Sitio Tagunol, Barangay Cogon Pardo, Cebu City.
Suspect Expresses Loneliness
"I miss my mother, that's why I'm crying. She doesn't know yet that I'm here," Mak-mak told police, according to a report from SunStar Local News. He admitted to playing hantak daily, claiming he often won and could add to his money.
Mak-mak earns about P200 daily from hauling water, which he would use as his bet in the gambling game. On the night of his arrest, he had already won P600 but spent it all on food.
Arrest and Investigation
The Inayawan Police Station 7 acted on a complaint from a concerned citizen about ongoing gambling in the area. Officers quickly responded and caught five individuals, but three managed to escape. Along with Mak-mak, police also arrested his 49-year-old neighbor, alias "Eugene."
A background check revealed that Mak-mak had a prior conviction for theft and had served an eight-year prison sentence.
