Nueva Vizcaya gov leads raids vs video karera

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — Irked by reports of the alleged inability of the police to stop the operations of video karera and so-called fruit games, Gov. Luisa Lloren-Cuaresma herself led a series of raids on suspected illegal gambling dens here last Thursday.

Accompanied by her staffers, the woman governor first went to her hometown of Bambang, where video karera and fruit games were reportedly proliferating.

Since the jueteng crackdown last August, video karera and fruit games have spread in the province, especially in the premier towns of Solano, Bayombong and Bambang.

Last Wednesday, two provincial board members filed a resolution denouncing the illegal gambling operations, prompting Cuaresma to personally conduct the raid.

"I cannot manage sitting in my office and hearing this avalanche of complaints, especially from parents whose children have been addicted to these machines," she said.

Earlier, the police led by Senior Superintendent Robert Mangaccat, provincial police director, said they were doing their best to contain all forms of illegal activities, including video karera and the fruit games.

Apparently unsatisfied with the police assurances, Cuaresma herself conducted the raids, confiscating at least five slot machines in Bambang.

"This is just to show that these illegal machines still proliferate contrary to (police) reports that they (had been) contained," said Cuaresma, who could not hide her disgust over what she described as the police inability to do their job.

According to sources, at least 100 slot machines, to include video karera and fruit games, have flooded the province with their "consignees" operating them obviously without fear of being apprehended.

The machines, which reportedly came from Pangasinan, were first brought to neighboring Isabela but found their way here after Isabela Gov. Grace Padaca vowed to work for the relief of local police officials whose areas are found to have these illegal machines.

The Catholic Church-run dwRV-Radio Veritas has also been airing complaints about the illegal machines, most of which are reportedly found near schools and churches.

In her resolution, board member Maybelle Blossom Dumlao denounced the police for what she described as their "cold and inconsistent response" to the illegal games.

"This might lead the public (to think) that the (PNP) is tolerant (of) illegal gambling," said Dumlao in her resolution, co-authored by board member Glen Afan.

For his part, Mangaccat, apparently stung by the raids which Cuaresma personally led, said the board members should review the local police code before giving statements that tend to demean the stature of law enforcers. He did not elaborate.

Meanwhile, Bambang police chief Peter Cambri said the operators of the slot machines which Cuaresma had confiscated are now being investigated and may be charged with violating Presidential Decree 1602 or the illegal gambling law.