‘Arrest all jueteng collectors’

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga — "No questions asked, no ifs or buts."

Thus said Chief Superintendent Alejandro Lapinid, newly installed Central Luzon police director, as he ordered all provincial, city and town police chiefs in the region to arrest jueteng collectors or face relief.

"The first order of the day is arrest all jueteng collectors," he told the local police chiefs in a command conference right after the turnover rites the other day.

Those who fail to follow his order "will be held liable for neglect of duty," he added.

Lapinid said plainclothes men of the Regional Mobile Group will be fielded to conduct anti-jueteng operations.

He, however, said he is optimistic that his men will do their job until the entire Central Luzon is jueteng-free.

Lapinid directed all police chiefs to submit daily reports on their respective campaigns against the illegal numbers game.

Lapinid replaced Chief Superintendent Rowland Albano who earlier admitted having neglected the anti-jueteng drive "a bit" due to other pressing concerns such as the fight against illegal drugs and criminality. — Ric Sapnu