Jueteng, illegal drugs persist in P’panga, cop chief admits

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – Provincial police director Senior Superintendent Keith Singian admitted yesterday that despite Gov. Eddie Panlilio’s vow to wipe out jueteng, the popular illegal numbers game has persisted, alongside the illegal drug trade.

Thus, Singian ordered his men to close ranks with the newly elected barangays officials, saying that police joining forces with them in fighting illegal gambling and illegal drugs is of “utmost importance.”

Singian issued the directive to the police chiefs of all 21 Pampanga towns, asking them to seek the help of village officials in organizing “barangay intelligence networks” (BINs) to finally curb the nagging problems of illegal gambling and illegal drugs.

He did not say how widespread the two problems are, but said barangay officials “often have vital information that could be used by the police in preventing the commission of crimes and in conducting operations against fugitives and crime syndicates.”

During his gubernatorial campaign, Panlilio, who went on leave as parish priest of Betis in Guagua town, vowed to rid the province of illegal gambling amid allegations that one of his rivals was linked to jueteng operations.

Singian said many of the new barangay executives are “first-timers” whose cooperation is needed for the police to maintain peace and order in their communities.

Meanwhile, Singian called on barangay officials to help the police on other problems like insurgency.

Since he assumed his post as Pampanga police director, Singian has commended barangay officials who have actively cooperated with the police “in giving out information of intelligence value which led to the speedy resolutions of crimes.”