Video karera operations ordered crushed

Another empty threat?

Interior Secretary Joey Lina has vowed to crush video karera operations in the country.

In his radio program over radio station dzMM, Lina said his office is already working out a program in going after video karera operators and maintainers who have been monitored flaunting the law.

"We are now in the process of licking this video karera problem," said Lina as he urged his listeners to report the existence of such machines in their neighborhood through text messaging or dial police Hotline 117. "Once we receive the report, I assure you, we would act accordingly."

Lina’s reaction came after a listener called his attention over the continued proliferation of video karera machines whose financiers he identified as Boboy Go, Randy Sy, Romy Gutierrez, Boy R. and a certain Sacho in Manila and Benny A. in Quezon City. But observers noted it was not the first time that Lina has embarked on such impossible task.

On April 4, 2002, Lina launched his campaign against jueteng.

His self-imposed deadline came and went on May 6 but up to now Lina continues to keep mum on the result of his jueteng campaign. And the recent arrests made by his operating arm, Task Force Jericho headed by Chief Superintendent Manuel Cabigon confirmed reports that jueteng continues to thrive in certain areas of the country. "Let’s see what will happen in this new drive of Secretary Lina," a police general told The STAR. "It’s too early to judge him and I do wish him all the luck this time."

For his part, Cabigon is taking Lina’s vow against video karera as his marching orders. "I will take that announcement of Secretary Lina as my marching orders. We will not only be going after jueteng but video karera and other illegal gambling operations as well," Cabigon said in an interview. — Non Alquitran