Police commanders reminded of one-strike policy on jueteng

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr. warned police commanders yesterday that they could be relieved based on the “One Strike” policy if they fail to stop jueteng in their areas.

In a radio interview, Razon said during a weekend visit to Baguio City he ordered police commanders to eradicate the illegal numbers game in Luzon. “The One Strike policy still stands,” he said.

Under the “One Strike” policy, any police commander will be immediately relieved once the anti-jueteng operations of Camp Crame-based police in their areas turn positive.

Jueteng reportedly thrives in Northern and Central Luzon, and the Calabarzon and Bicol regions.

A source said in Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte alone, the police are receiving P2 million in protection money, with the local police getting two percent of the gross daily earnings, seven percent for municipal mayors and one percent for the Peace and Order Council.

“Except for Pangasinan where there are different operators, there’s only one in Ilocos who’s also a partner in Cagayan,” a Camp Crame insider said.

The source said a reported P400,000 grease money has been set aside by jueteng operators in Northern Luzon to “silence” some reporters covering Camp Crame.

Part of the monthly payoff is being collected by a tabloid reporter, while the rest are coursed through a police officer in Camp Crame, the source added.

In Isabela, the police are receiving P1.5 million in protection money; in Abra P600,000 and P1.5 million in Cagayan province, the source said.

However, the source is not sure if jueteng is also prevalent in Nueva Vizcaya because attempts to put up an illegal numbers game there did not prosper due to the strong opposition of the Catholic Church.    – Jaime Laude