Cops offer cash rewards in campaign vs jueteng

The police has offered a P10,000 reward for information leading to successful operations against "jueteng" dens in Metro Manila.

Acting Metro Manila police director Chief Superintendent Rowland Albano on Monday said he is hoping that the reward would encourage the public to actively participate in the efforts of Interior Secretary Joey Lina to curb in one year "jueteng" operations not only in Metro Manila but also in the provinces.

"The reward money may be small but we are hoping that it is enough to convince the public to support our effort by reporting locations where gambling lords draw the winning combination of their "jueteng" business," said Albano in an interview.

And with the public’s participation in the "jueteng" campaign, Albano expressed confidence that it could off-set the unholy alliance between gambling lords and active or retired police and civilian "tong" collectors.

Albano urged the public to call his office and relay any information regarding the location of "jueteng" draws or bolahan. His telephone number is 9258156.

"All the public should do is to call us up, report the location of the "bolahan" which I will immediately order raided," said Albano saying the caller must leave his name and telephone number which will be kept in confidentiality.

According to Albano his staff would inform the caller whether the raid was successful and he could claim his reward anytime by presenting an identification card. The reward money would come from the tight budget of the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO).

During his term as director of the Police Regional Office 2 (PRO2), Albano was credited for putting to a complete stop to "jueteng" operations in his area of jurisdiction.

And Lina is looking forward to Albano’s duplicating his feat in Metro Manila while Metro Manila police chief Deputy Director General Edgar Aglipay is on an extended leave abroad.

To ensure that the raids would bear positive results, Albano has mobilized the media, barangay personnel, church and non-government organizations (NGO’s) to accompany the raiding police teams.

"If I have done it before, there’s no way it can’t be done now," said Albano as he warned police officials that he will not hesitate to have them relieved if found remiss in their duties against "jueteng."