Jueteng survey rankles Pangasinan execs

DAGUPAN CITY — A new Church-sponsored survey showing that jueteng has resurfaced in central Pangasinan has rankled authorities, and the police are on their toes anew.

Senior Superintendent Arturo Cacdac Jr., provincial police chief, admitted receiving directives from Chief Superintendent Arturo Lomibao, regional police director, and Gov. Victor Agbayani to intensify anti-illegal gambling operations.

Cacdac, in turn, relayed the order via a radio message to local police chiefs, particularly in areas where jueteng has resurfaced.

Asked why the lull in the anti-gambling drive, he said, "We set priorities and address the more serious concerns first. We have other concerns to attend to like terrorism, (illegal) drugs, organized crime groups and wanted persons."

The survey, the fourth conducted so far by the Lingayen-Dagupan Archdiocese, showed that jueteng thrives anew, in varying degrees from rampant to negligible, in two cities (Dagupan and San Carlos) and 12 towns in central Pangasinan.

Archbishop Oscar Cruz described the survey results as "more detailed" and "more concrete."

The jueteng halt this Christmas worries one mayor. Requesting anonymity, he said he is at a loss where to get money for gifts to his constituents.

Mayor Julian Resuello of San Carlos City, ranked fourth with rampant to moderate jueteng operations, said Cruz should have discussed the findings with the mayors before releasing these to the media.

"It is unfair…We should sit together and discuss what to do with the problem because we are also doing something to fight it," he said.

Cruz, however, said he did not mean to embarrass the mayors but was just doing his moral and spiritual obligation to his flock.

Dagupan Mayor Benjamin Lim, for his part, said he had given orders to the police to stop jueteng in the city. But he added, "If the law enforcers are half-hearted in implementing the orders apparently because they are also benefiting from it, then it won’t stop."

Cacdac furnished The STAR their accomplishment report showing that 45 jueteng raids have been conducted since he assumed his position, resulting in the arrest of 156 people, seizure of P46,560.75 in bets and filing of 21 cases in court.