PNP: Jueteng on the rise anew

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has admitted the resurgence of jueteng in the country but blamed gambling operators for taking advantage of the mechanisms of the state-run small-town lottery (STL) to legitimize their operations.

PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Samuel Pagdilao Jr. said jueteng operators took advantage of the STL operations in their areas by encouraging their bet collectors to be employed in the STL.

Pagdilao said police are in a dilemma whether to go after the jueteng collectors since many of them just show their STL IDs.

"Admittedly, may resurgence of jueteng because of (the) STL, in which jueteng operators are taking advantage of the (Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office)-sponsored game," Pagdilao told the weekly Talakayan sa Isyu ng Pulis (TSIP) at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

He said many known jueteng personnel are now openly collecting for the STL.

"Former jueteng personnel are now in STL so we are holding continuing dialogues with PCSO officials to straighten the issue between jueteng and STL," Pagdilao said.

PNP chief Director General Oscar Calderon earlier vowed to end jueteng by September during his meeting with Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno.

"With pronouncement of the PNP chief for the eradication of jueteng, the PNP will carry out this order, meaning all units from regional police officer down to the municipal stations, including special units," Pagdilao added.

Puno said Calderon has promised, and "I will repeat the promise that by the end of September you will see this thing put to stop again, totally."

Puno said he had been meeting with PCSO officials in an effort to thresh out the problems between STL and jueteng.

Puno pointed out that many of those who have been arrested by the police were released after showing IDs that they are STL collectors.

"So, I want to resolve this once and for all within the next week or two. I am supposed to meet with (PCSO) chairman (Sergio) Valencia last Wednesday pero ’di pa tapos ’yung groundwork (The groundwork isn’t finished yet)," he added.

Puno also said that a local official he did not identify, has been critical of the jueteng operations in his province but his brother had been financing the illegal gambling operations for about three months.

At the same time, Puno called on local government officials, religious leaders, the police and the community to coordinate and solve the jueteng problem.

"I have always been against jueteng. And I want to have a permanent solution to this," he said. - With Ma. Neriza Reyes