Laguna Mayor rapped over Jueteng; 5 more police execs face relief

LAGUNA — Five more top police officials, including a one-star general, may be relieved this week for allegedly failing to stamp out jueteng in their respective turfs, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina told The STAR.

Lina, who chairs the National Police Commission (Napolcom), was in San Pedro town Saturday night as guest speaker at the organizational meeting of the Small Bikers Federation of the Philippines.

Lina refused to identify the five police officials. He hinted though that one is a chief superintendent, who is usually assigned as regional police director; two are senior superintendents (full colonels) and the other two, superintendents (lieutenant-colonels).

"Wait for the results of the (Napolcom board’s) final evaluation this week," he said.

Lina, meanwhile, revealed that his department is looking into the possibility of filing administrative and even criminal charges against Mayor Joel Cuento of Sta. Maria town over alleged jueteng operations in the municipality. He refused to give details.

Earlier, Lina was heavily criticized after the Napolcom passed a resolution relieving four police generals and three police colonels from their posts.

Among those relieved were Deputy Director Edgardo Aglipay, chief of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO); and regional police chiefs Director Domingo Reyes Jr. of Southern Tagalog, Director Avelino Razon Jr. of Central Visayas and Chief Superintendent Reynaldo Berroya of Central Luzon.

Lina said they expect to enforce the relief order this week. This, as the ban on the movement of government personnel in connection with the July 15 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, ends on Wednesday.

Lina admitted that jueteng operations have significantly declined following their no-nonsense campaign against illegal gambling.

But he said jueteng still persists in some areas due to alleged protection by local police and politicians.

According to Lina, five provinces are jueteng-free, namely, Ilocos Sur, Nueva Vizcaya, Occidental Mindoro, Aurora and Quirino.