Lomibao admits jueteng resurgence

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — Philippine National Police chief Director General Arturo Lomibao admitted yesterday that jueteng has resurfaced in some parts of Luzon despite the serious crackdown on the illegal numbers game.

However, Lomibao gave assurances that jueteng would not thrive under his watch despite the efforts of some gambling lords and their cohorts to revive it.

Lomibao, who served as provincial director here during the 1990s, warned police personnel, especially city and town police chiefs and provincial directors, that he would not hesitate to relieve them from their posts if they are found coddling jueteng.

Last Thursday, upon the personal request of Bayombong Bishop Ramon Villena, Lomibao dispatched the anti-illegal gambling task force here to conduct raids in Solano town where jueteng has reportedly returned.

"But the operations (yielded nothing). But I warned the (police) leadership here to be always on guard against jueteng. I would not hesitate to implement the one-strike policy on your provincial director had the operations proved to be positive. There are no sacred cows in our campaign against all illegal (activities)," Lomibao said.

He cited last week’s relief of Chief Inspector Conrad Gongon, police chief of Gen. Trias, Cavite, after 46 people were arrested during a raid on a jueteng den in his turf.

Meanwhile, eight cobradores (bet collectors) were arrested in two separate anti-jueteng raids in Tanauan City, Batangas last Thursday night and Friday morning.

Chief Superintendent Jesus Versoza, Calabarzon police director, said joint operatives of the Special Mobile Group and the Tanauan police first swooped down on the jueteng den allegedly operated by one Pacifico Galicia in Barangay Banadero Thursday night and nabbed six people.

The following day, two cobradores were arrested while they were collecting bets in Barangay Luyos in Tanauan. — With Arnell Ozaeta