DILG pinpoints jueteng ‘hot spots’

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) released yesterday the initial list of provinces, cities and towns where jueteng and other forms of illegal gambling proliferate.

The list, submitted by the DILG Special Operations Group (SOG)’s Task Force Jericho, would be used as basis for an impending major revamp of the Philippine National Police, Interior Secretary Jose Lina Jr. said.

Lina, who is also chairman of the National Police Commission, said they were still awaiting the reports of other law enforcement agencies that conducted anti-gambling operations nationwide.

Listed as jueteng "hot spots" were the cities of Manila particularly Tondo, Caloocan, Quezon, Makati, Marikina, Pasig, Valenzuela and Parañaque.in the National Capital Region; Dagupan and Urdaneta in Pangasinan; the towns of Dinalupihan in Bataan, San Antonio in Nueva Ecija, Macabebe, San Fernando, San Simon and Angeles City in Pampanga; Tarlac City, Concepcion and Sta. Ignacia in Tarlac, and Castillejos in Zambales, San Pablo City in Laguna, Tanauan in Batangas, Antipolo and Rodriguez in Rizal.

Lina has warned local government officials that they would be stripped of their supervisory powers over the police if they tolerated illegal gambling activities in their respective localities.

On the other hand, police commanders would be sacked and charged administratively for gross negligence of duty.

Lina clarified that the sanctions would apply only to newly elected local government officials.

Lina warned police commanders that it would need only two strikes by the anti-gambling operatives in their respective areas of jurisdiction and they would be out of their posts.

Lina instructed the task force to initiate administrative proceedings against police officials who failed to stop illegal gambling operations in their respective towns or cities.

Task Force Jericho has so far arrested 40 suspected maintainers, financiers and bettors during a series of raids against illegal gambling dens in Quezon City, Manila and Rizal province.