Jueteng Resurgence: Vizcaya cop chief relieved

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — Camp Crame has relieved the police director of this Cagayan Valley province following reports that jueteng has resurfaced in several municipalities.

The relief of Senior Superintendent Jesus Manubay, who took over as provincial police director in December last year, took effect last Nov. 5.

Before his relief, Manubay even created a multisectoral anti-gambling task force that would go after those behind "guerrilla-type" operations of the illegal numbers game particularly in the towns of Bagabag, Villaverde, Solano, Bayombong, Bambang, Dupax del Norte and Santa Fe.

Gov. Rodolfo Agbayani said Manubay earlier told him that he was one of a number of provincial police directors who were on their way out.

But Agbayani said he could not get confirmation that Manubay’s relief had something to do with the reported resurgence of jueteng in the province.

"I (have) not received any notice yet. He was the one who told me that Nueva Vizcaya was one of the provinces whose police directors would be changed," said Agbayani, who had been cited by a Catholic Church-led multisectoral group for transforming the province into a jueteng-free zone.

Before Manubay was relieved, text messages had circulated in the province, claiming that jueteng had resurfaced. Agbayani admitted having received these text messages.

Police officers here have confirmed that small-time jueteng operators have been attempting to revive the illegal numbers game.

Last month, Bayombong Bishop Ramon Villena sent a personal letter to Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina Jr. to seek Manubay’s immediate relief before he (Villena) left abroad for a two-month retreat.

Villena, co-chairman of the Bishops-Businessmen Conference, had criticized Manubay for his alleged failure to respond to reports about the resurgence of jueteng in the province.

"We cannot do anything more if the good bishop is not satisfied with our performance," Manubay said.