NBI raids 11 gambling dens

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) launched Tuesday simultaneous raids on 11 suspected gambling dens in San Fernando City and in Angeles City, and apprehended some 50 jueteng collectors, including six minors.

The raids were conducted upon receipt of complaints from former jueteng station manager Ruben Marin that operations of the illegal numbers game have proliferated in the two cities with impunity, said Anthony Liongson, NBI regional director.

Liongson said jueteng dens raided in San Fernando were located in Barangays Telebastagan and Cutud. In Angeles City those raided were located in Barangays Pulung Bulo, Malabanias, Bagong Bayan 2, Cut-Cut and Sto. Cristo.

Civic and religious leaders said that jueteng can only exist in communities with the tolerance or permission of local officials, like governors, mayors, and barangay captains and police officers. Retired Col. Antonio Lopez recalled that when he was provincial commander of the defunct Philippine Constabulary (PC) in Aurora, jueteng did not thrive there because the governor then did not allow its operation. There was a time that jueteng was not going on in Porac, Pampanga because the mayor did not allow it also, said a Pampanga civic leader.

"The rampant proliferation of jueteng in San Fernando and Angeles Cities has prompted our office to launch all-out war against illegal gambling," Liongson said.

NBI investigators have prepared charges against the arrested jueteng collectors, except the minors, for violation of Republic Act 1602, the illegal gambling law. At the same, NBI authorities said that they would extend their war against illegal gambling, particularly jueteng in Central Luzon. — Ric Sapnu