Jueteng back in Nueva Ecija

CABANATUAN CITY — Jueteng has returned quietly in Nueva Ecija after a long absence with cabos and cobradores now making the rounds of communities to collect bets.

According to a STAR source, jueteng has resumed in some parts of the province, specifically in Gen. Tinio town and Palayan City.

A suspected jueteng lord in Central Luzon is believed financing the operations of the illegal numbers game.

The suspected financier reportedly used to control jueteng in the province, but lost his foothold to a local operator who also eventually faded out of the scene when authorities clamped down on illegal gambling.

The STAR gathered that jueteng has been going on in Palayan City, the seat of the provincial government, since two weeks ago, particularly in Barangay Malate, while operations in Gen. Tinio began only last Thursday.

The source said the illegal numbers game is set to resume in three northern Nueva Ecija towns.

Former cabos and cobradores, according to the source, met in Gen. Tinio last Thursday for a test-run.

The source said the jueteng resumption apparently has the blessings of higher-ups, otherwise it would not have happened at all.

"Siyempre nakatimbre ‘yan (Of course, that has been sounded off)," he said. "They are now back in business complete with their papelitos and all."

Last week, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz, chairman of the Krusadang Bayan Laban sa Jueteng, said jueteng has resumed in some parts of Luzon since last month.

A former aide of the suspected financier, who sought anonymity, however, denied that the latter is the one running the show in the province.

He said a certain "Unding" and "Nora" are the ones financing the illegal numbers game. The two used to run jueteng in the province, he added.

The source said jueteng would have resumed in the northern towns of Guimba, Quezon and Sto. Domingo by yesterday.

Senior Superintendent Alex Paul Monteagudo, provincial police director, however, denied that jueteng has resurfaced.

Monteagudo admitted though that he has received reports about it.

"But I have checked it with my station commanders and as of (Thursday) night, we have not validated any reports of a jueteng resurgence. Meron daw nag-attempt pero di natuloy (Somebody reportedly attempted but did not push through)," he said.

He urged newsmen to inform him about jueteng operations. "Please report it to me baka binubulag lang ako (I might just be blinded)," he said, referring to field reports belying the reports.