Whistle-blower tags 2 cops in jueteng payoffs

MANILA, Philippines -  A woman who used to supervise jueteng bet collectors named yesterday two officials of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) as recipients of payoffs from operators of the illegal numbers game.

In a press conference yesterday at a Manila restaurant, “Katrina” said “Col. Ocden” and “Col. Capa” have been receiving P300,000 weekly from jueteng operators in the southern part of Metro Manila.

Wearing a hood to conceal her face, Katrina said she and the other personnel of the Meridien Vista Gaming Corp. are being harassed and arrested by NCRPO policemen despite working for a legal gaming company.

“I admit having worked as a cabo for jueteng in the past, but due to high weekly payola we were compelled to stop jueteng and work legally with Meridien,” Katrina said in Filipino.

She said a certain “Allan Manuela” is the jueteng coordinator in Las Piñas, Parañaque, Taguig, Pateros, Muntinlupa and Pasay. It is his job to collect money from cabos for the weekly payola, according to Katrina.

She alleged that Manuela could have told to get back at them for turning their back on jueteng.

“How could we make an honest living when police continue to arrest us despite working in a legal gaming firm?” Katrina said.

NCRPO policemen reportedly arrested 14 personnel of Meridien in several betting stations last week.

NCRPO chief Director Alan Purisima insisted that those arrested were collecting bets outside their outlets, which he said is illegal under the law.