Jueteng’s back in Nueva Vizcaya

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — After hibernating for two years, jueteng operators are again in business, reviving the illegal numbers game in almost all parts of this northern province.

After staging a successful comeback last Monday in this province’s premier towns — Solano, Bambang and Bayombong — cabos (bet collectors), allegedly with the "blessings" of local government and police officials, have expanded their operations to the inner towns, such as Dupax del Norte, Dupax del Sur, Villaverde and Quezon.

Reports said jueteng is back in at least 10 of the province’s 15 municipalities.

Church-backed anti-jueteng advocates lobbied hard to halt the illegal numbers game in 2001 amid attempts to revive it. But it came back as soon as jueteng operators managed to revive it in neighboring Isabela and Quirino recently.

Jueteng surged back in Isabela despite assurances from Gov. Grace Padaca that it would not thrive under her watch.

Earlier, Ilagan, Isabela Bishop Sergio Utleg denounced jueteng operations in his diocese, castigating local government and police officials for their alleged lack of political will and determination to stop the illegal numbers game. 

In this province, jueteng returned as Bayombong Bishop Ramon Villena, a known anti-jueteng crusader, was reportedly out of the province on official business.

Senior Superintendent Felix Caddali, provincial police director, was also reportedly out of the province when the jueteng lords conducted "dry runs." He could not be reached for comment.

However, Caddali, who is set to retire this coming March, earlier vowed that he would not allow illegal gambling to thrive in this land-locked province. 

With three draws held daily, jueteng financiers and operators are now reportedly raking in at least P1 million daily, half of it reportedly going to those who have given them "blessings."

Sources said a Pangasinan-based jueteng group, led by a certain Villegas, is allegedly behind the operations, with a certain Palma reportedly looking after its operations here.

The latter also allegedly acts as "area operator" of another gambling financier who is behind the jueteng operations in Santiago City and Quirino province, which, along with Nueva Vizcaya, are part of Villena’s ecclesiastical jurisdiction.

Recently, Chief Superintendent Alfredo de Vera, Cagayan Valley police director who hails from Pangasinan, warned local police chiefs that they face relief if jueteng is found thriving in their turfs.