Jueteng back in P’sinan b’gays

DAGUPAN CITY — Despite the intensified police campaign and the Church-led crusade against jueteng, the illegal numbers game is becoming rampant again in the province because of the forthcoming elections, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz said.

Cruz, chairman of the Krusada ng Bayan Laban sa Jueteng (Jueteng-Free Philippines), said a recent survey showed that jueteng is rampant in most barangays in the 15 towns and two cities covered by the archdiocese.

The results of the survey conducted by three independent teams in November were released to the media the other day.

"There is only one reason which we already predicted. More and more money is needed for the election campaign and consequently, public officials are trying to accumulate as much funds as possible," Cruz said.

He said he was no longer surprised by the survey findings, but that he felt bad about them, adding he was "hoping against hope this would not happen."

From January to November, police had conducted 186 anti-gambling raids, resulting in the arrest of 628 people and the confiscation of P147,699.30 in cash bets. Eighty-six cases have been filed in court against those arrested.

Senior Superintendent Mario Sandiego, provincial police director, said the police have not been remiss in their job to stop jueteng, as proven by their sustained efforts against it.

Sandiego said he is hoping that a stiffer law against jueteng be passed to give their operations more teeth.