Illegal gambling is back in Marikina, CAMANAVA

After a brief lull, the illegal numbers game jueteng is back in Marikina City. And this time, a new illegal gambling financier, a certain Cris de la Paz, is bold enough to operate openly under the very noses of local policemen.

De la Paz, the police source said, replaced his half-brother, Tony Santos and a close relative, Eddie Caro, as Marikina City’s new jueteng lord. The new jueteng czar also operates in neighboring cities and municipalities.

Earlier, The STAR published a series of reports about Santos and Caro, prompting them to shift their jueteng operations outside Marikina City.

Because of the duo’s absence, De la Paz allegedly took over the city’s jueteng operations before the May 14 elections. Sources said the gambling lord contributed heavily to the campaign chest of a local government official who ran and won in the last electoral race. De la Paz allegedly expects his illegal business to thrive undisturbed and flourish with the incumbency of the said local government official.

The same sources said De la Paz is also shelling out weekly protection money to local police officials.

Superintendent Leo Kison, Marikina City police chief failed to return The STAR’s calls yesterday. But Chief Superintendent George Aliño, Eastern Police district (EPD) director denied reports that policemen are on De la Paz’ payroll. He said his men have been religiously conducting anti-illegal gambling drives since he assumed his post last April 5.

He said more than 20 raids conducted by his men were fruitful and all those arrested were properly charged in court.

"We are not only targetting De la Paz but other financiers as well," said Aliño as he vowed an intensified drive against illegal gambling.

Aliño admitted that bet collectors continue making their rounds in the EPD area but stressed that he has ordered raids on places where the jueteng draws are done.

Aside from De la Paz, other gambling lords operating in Marikina City are allegedly Joel Guevarra and Eddie Texas. Guevarra operates sakla (a Spanish card game) while Texas runs illegal jai-alai bookies.

Aside from the eastern part, jueteng is also reportedly back in the northern part of Metro Manila, allegedly with the protection of a Northern Police District (NPD) ranking police official.

Highly placed sources told The STAR that several gambling lords in the Camanava (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela) area continue their illegal operations with the blessings of the ranking police officer who uses an active police operative to collect from the gambling lords a weekly payola ranging from P10,000 P30,000 each.

"Note, it’s P10,000 to P30,000 each. Imagine how many illegal gambling lords are operating in the Camanava area? there are more than 20 of them and around 15 are considered to be big timers," the sources said.

They identified the collector as a certain "Sergeant Gerry," who also uses "Roger" as an alias. – With Pete Laude