‘Arrest new jueteng lord’

Metro Manila police chief Director Edgar Aglipay ordered yesterday the arrest of alleged gambling lord Eduardo "Eddie" Caro, who was named the new jueteng king in the metropolis.

"I have ordered the arrest of Caro. He should be charged immediately once we gather evidence against him," Aglipay told The STAR in a phone interview.

Aglipay tasked Senior Superintendent Simeon Dizon Jr., director of the Eastern Police District, and Superintendent Leo Kison, Marikina City police chief, to have Caro incarcerated.

Police sources revealed that Caro, who is reportedly grossing almost P12 million daily in 13 towns and cities, has bested his former mentor Tony Santos for the title.

Caro went full-blast into jueteng operations late last year, at a time when the Philippine National Police was busy contending with rallies at the height of the impeachment trial of President Estrada.

The alleged jueteng king was arrested earlier by the men of Chief Superintendent Romeo Maganto of the Task Force Katapat of the Department of Interior and Local Government. He denied the charges and was released after posting bail.

Kison reported to Dizon that Caro and Santos’ bet collectors (cabos) continue to do the rounds of Marikina despite their efforts to apprehend them.

Both Caro and Santos are based in Barangay San Roque in the city. However, Kison stressed that the two gambling lords draw their daily winning combinations somewhere else.

But Caro’s rise to the top was reportedly linked to his strong connections with high-ranking police and local government officials.

His brother-in-law, a certain Julie Baba, who is armed with a .45 caliber automatic pistol, reportedly acts as Caro’s liaison officer with policemen and politicians.

Aside from Caro, Aglipay said Baba should also be arrested and charged in court if his handgun is found unsupported by pertinent documents. — Non Alquitran