Albano vows to break gambling ring

Acting Metro Manila police director Chief Superintendent Rowland Albano vowed yesterday to dismantle the unholy alliance between active and retired policemen, civilian "tong" collectors and gambling lords operating in the metropolis.

The unholy alliance between the "tong" collectors and gambling lords was being blamed for the low success rate of the "jueteng" campaign waged by Interior Secretary Joey Lina not only in Metro Manila but also in the provinces.

"It seems that these "tong" collectors are tipping off gambling lords of impending police raids resulting in the low success rate of our campaign against "jueteng", said Albano in an interview. According to Albano, Lina verbally ordered him to implement his "no jueteng, no take" policy in Metro Manila.

Records show that for the period April 20 to May 3, the five police districts in Metro Manila conducted more than 600 raids on suspected "jueteng" dens but less than a third turned out positive. Only some 150 people were arrested and hauled off to jail.

The Southern Police District (SPD) alone conducted 421 "jueteng" operations in the said period which resulted in the recovery of P8,263 in cash bets and the filing of only 12 cases in court.

Chief Superintendent Jose Gutierrez, SPD director, admitted that only 252 raids turned out positive which led to the arrest of 77 people, including three financiers from Muntinlupa City.

Despite Lina’s order to completely put a stop to "jueteng," the illegal numbers game continues to flourish because of the protection provided by "tong" collectors to gambling lords. These "tong" collectors, comprised of active and retired policemen and civilians, are protected by a police general assigned at Camp Crame, a police official said. The "tong" collectors are getting bolder and were even monitored dropping not only Lina’s name in their illegal activities but also that of Director Nestorio Gualberto, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

It was not known whether those using Lina and Gualberto’s names were included in Albano’s order of battle against "tong" collectors. The "jueteng" operations continue to flourish nationwide because of the existence of the "tong" collectors, who receive a huge amount of cash for their services in tipping off gambling lords of impending police raids, a police official said.

"I’ve already given a stern warning to district directors and station commanders regarding Lina’s no nonsense campaign against "jueteng," said Albano. "I want positive results, including the arrest of "tong" collectors, within this week."