‘No word that Bong Pineda’s back’

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — Suspected gambling lord Bong Pineda is still in the United States and no one seems to know when he’ll be back.

"I have no information that he’s back," said Chief Superintendent Roberto Calinisan, Central Luzon police director.

The STAR also called up Pineda’s homes in Lubao town and Greenhills, San Juan and was told that he remains in the US, where he went last October reportedly to undergo medical checkup and hair transplant.

Reports circulated here yesterday that Pineda has returned to the country. But a household staffmember of the Pinedas in Greenhills, who identified herself only as Irene, belied the reports.

Someone from the Pinedas’ residence in Lubao and a staffer of his wife, Lubao Mayor Lilia Pineda, also insisted that the suspected gambling lord is still in the US.

Mrs. Pineda was not available for comment.

Calinisan, however, said Pineda has no warrant of arrest. He added though that he would further check the records.

He said Pineda’s jueteng operations have stopped since he left the country, but admitted that so-called "guerrilla-type" activities still persist in the region.

He said jueteng operations are now largely in the hands of Melchor Caliwag, alias Ngongo, who is out on bail. He was arrested late last year for illegal gambling just as the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee was investigating the exposé of Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson that ousted President Joseph Estrada had received payoffs from big-time gambling lords, including Pineda.

The construction of a three-story building, which Caliwag reportedly owns, continues along the Gapan-Olongapo highway in Barangay Dolores here.

A billboard stating Caliwag as the property owner was torn down at the height of the jueteng scandal.

Meanwhile, provincial attorney Benalfre Galang said Mrs. Pineda wants to join the Lakas-NUCD in her bid to run for vice governor.

Galang, however, said Mrs. Pineda would run only if presidential son Mikey Arroyo would junk his plan to vie for the post.

Mrs. Pineda is now serving her third and last term as Lubao mayor. She had always run as an independent candidate.