Jueteng-on-wheels busted

Illegal gamblers have become innovative these days, engaging in guerrilla-type jueteng activities to avoid arrest.

However, the new scheme did not evade the attention of the elements of the Regional Intelligence and Special Operations Office (RISOO) who caught five persons drawing the winning combination inside a parked car in Quezon City.

RISOO chief Superintendent Miguel Laurel identified the suspects as Lito Iduyan, 35; Rowel Pascual, 34; Melissa Toledo, 35; Cecilia Chavez, 42 and Jun Daracan, 29.

Laurel said they were caught inside a light-blue Daewoo sedan (PWG 291) parked along Litex Road in Barangay Commonwealth at around 10:30 p.m. Saturday.

After police opened the car doors, the suspects tried to run but failed.

Seized from the suspects were P2,545 cash bets, eight red China markers, two stamp pads, a bottle of stamp pad ink, a winning combination marker, and several jueteng bet lists or lastillas.

Senior Superintendent Gil Menesses, intelligence chief of the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) ordered the impounding of the vehicle used for the illegal gambling activity.

Meneses explained that illegal gambling oprators are now employing guereilla-type tactics to avoid monitoring by the police.

An hour earlier, Laurel’s men also arrested eight persons in a raid on a house on 119 Calapati Street, Barangay Holy Spirit. They were also caught in the act of drawing the winning jueteng combination.

Arrested were Michael Lopez, 30; Emerlito Pasahol, 35; Alberto Ramos, 34; Joel Canindazo, 30; Alice Roxas, 39; Leonor Bellow, 35; Zandro Matias, 30, and Renato Mallieta, 41. They yielded, several pieces of red China markers, one calculator, a winning combination marker and P3,140 in cash bets. They later pointed to a certain Jesse Viceo of Bulacan as their financier, Laurel said.

He said illegal gambling charges were filed yesterday with the Quezon city prosecutor’s office against those arrested. Assistant City Prosecutor Ma. Garcia Casaclang recommended P10,000 bail each for their release.

The 13 are currently detained at the RISOO headquarters at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig. – Non Alquitran