38 fall in Valenzuela anti-jueteng raids

Police rounded up 38 people involved in jueteng operations and charged them with illegal gambling in the Valenzuela City’s Prosecutor’s Office yesterday.

Inspector Salvador Dela Cruz of the Investigation Bureau and city police chief Superintendent Nemesio Neron said the suspects were caught conducting jueteng activities during a series of raids in barangays Vicente Reales, Palasan, Punturin, and Malinta.

Authorities confiscated P3,713 in alleged gambling money and various jueteng equipment.

The suspects were identified as Luisa Cruz, 36; Lineth De Castro, 23; William Jose, 40; Billy Reyes, 29; Salvador Ranola, 52; Alvin Santos, 24; Alex Figueroa; Marcelo Encarnado, 44; Jun Abuda, 33; Romeo Reyes, 33; Renato Ayuson, 34; Rolando Dela Cruz, Ruben Ocampo, 37; Danilo Magnayon, 34; Ricardo Obrigo, 37; Leonardo De Jesus, 54; Antonio Ariega, 42; Rowel Dela Cruz, 28; Artemio Perez, 50; Jose Cruz, 49; Lolita Fernando, 45; Vangie Pascual, 60; Teresita Berdera, 46; Michelle Francisco, Rowena Cruz, 29; Junior Rodriguez, Francisco Robles, and Roberto Mercado.

Dela Cruz added that the suspects took advantage of the busy schedule of the police, because of protests and rallies against President Estrada, to revive their illegal activities.

Meanwhile, a policeman and his two companions were arrested by operatives of the Department of Interior and Local Government anti-crime task force for forcibly seizing gambling evidence taken during a raid on a mini-carnival (perya) in Quezon City before dawn yesterday.

Arrested were PO2 Roderick Taca, 29, married, assigned to the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Police Office, of 254 Teresa st., Sta. Mesa, Manila; his companions Ricardo Amante, 44, of 69 Brixton st., Santol and Romeo Miguel, 46, of 11 Calavite st., both in Quezon City.

Taca used to be assigned at the DILG-STF during the term of former DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno but was transferred to Mindanao after being accused of collecting grease money from owners of nightclubs.

DILG-Special Task Force director Chief Inspector Nelson Yabut said the suspects, believed to be gambling protectors, were arrested along Retiro street, La Loma, Quezon City, for forcibly taking evidence seized by the STF from a mini-fair nearby.

Investigation showed that STF team headed by Senior Inspector Antonio Cruz raided the mini-carnival following reports of illegal gambling.

Cruz’s team confiscated illegal gambling paraphernalia, including seven pieces of gambling game boards.

Cruz tasked junior policeman Harold Legaspi to look after the seized gambling paraphernalia while the rest of the raiders went to get vehicles to transport the evidence to the DILG-STF headquarters along EDSA. – Cecille Suerte Felipe