‘Jueteng’ persists in Nueva Ecija despite new government

CABANATUAN CITY — It will take more than a change in the presidency, it seems, to stop jueteng operations in Nueva Ecija.

A week after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assumed the presidency, the illegal numbers game, which ironically triggered her predecessor’s ouster, continues to be played with impunity in the province.

The assumption into office of Interior and Local Government Secretary Joey Lina, Deputy Director General Leandro Mendoza as acting chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and even Deputy Director General Reynaldo Wycoco — a Novo Ecijano — as National Bureau of Investigation director had "zero impact" among jueteng operators, cabos and bet-takers who continue to ply their trade in the open, contrary to the so-called "guerrilla-style" tactics.

In Nueva Ecija, jueteng remains rampant in Talavera, Sta. Rosa, Rizal, Licab, Llanera and other towns, and this city.

In Sta. Rosa, jueteng draws are reportedly being done thrice daily, and in this city, winning number combinations are being drawn somewhere in Barangay Bagong Sikat.

Another source alleged that a prominent provincial politician is running the operations of the illegal numbers game, a potential source of campaign money in the run-up to the May elections.

Local political observers expressed doubts whether Mrs. Arroyo could actually stop jueteng which flourishes in the province.

Sources said jueteng also persists in many parts of Central Luzon, particularly in Pampanga and Bulacan.