Baguio City dad, barangay head accused of abetting jueteng

BAGUIO CITY — An anti-graft crusader and tabloid columnist has filed a complaint against a city councilor and a barangay chairman with the Office of the Ombudsman, accusing them of abetting jueteng disguised as bingo socials.

Complainant Odell Aquino accused Rufino Panagan, head of the Association of Barangay Chairmen, and Albert Della, chairman of Barangay Trancoville, of "concocting, organizing, protecting, spearheading, propagating and implementing this so-called Bingo sa Barangay that is clearly disguised illegal gambling known as jueteng."

Aquino claimed that the "modus operandi, method of collections and draws" of the Bingo sa Barangay are "exactly identical" to the illegal numbers game.

Mayor Braulio Yaranon himself described the project, which has been operating for three months now, as "jueteng masquerading as bingo."

Panagan and Della had sought a 20-day temporary restraining order from Baguio City Regional Trial Court Judge Antonio Esteves against Yaranon’s move to stop the project, but the TRO had lapsed several weeks ago.

They also sought a declaratory relief from the court to resolve the legality of Bingo sa Barangay vis-a-vis Yaranon’s stand, which Aquino described as "firmly on solid moral, legal and ethical grounds."

Reached for comment, both Panagan and Della said they have not received a copy of Aquino’s complaint, but vowed that they would answer the allegations.

Yaranon, meanwhile, told reporters that he sees a cause of action against the barangay chairmen supporting the Bingo sa Barangay which he said is illegal since it has no business permit from the city government.