Mobile jueteng draws take place in Quirino?

CABARROGUIS, Quirino – Jueteng draws are being conducted in mobile operations here as operators of the illegal numbers game have been reportedly trying to make a comeback in this interior Cagayan Valley’s landlocked province.

A source said that jueteng’s winning numbers, reportedly being conducted three times a day, have been undertaken inside a mobile van, apparently to avoid police detection, with the lucky combinations disseminated to jueteng cobradores (bet collectors) and cabos (chief collectors) through a text over a cellular mobile phone.

“Per our knowledge, the operations are still guerrilla type with draws conducted in a mobile venue,” the source said. Other sources also hinted that jueteng collections from here are being brought to Barangay Taringsing in neighboring Isabela’s Cordon town, where they are eventually drawn.

Reportedly, almost all of Quirino’s six towns, have now been invaded by jueteng, bringing additional earnings to its operators, at least P300,000 daily, obviously staining the province’s long-running image as jueteng-free area.

All these had developed amid the long-standing order of first-termer Gov. Dakila Carlo Cua, who, in his earlier pronouncements, had vowed that jueteng would not thrive during his watch.

Police authorities here, under Senior Superintendent Romeo Singapan, meanwhile, said they are increasing their vigilance in monitoring jueteng operations, and added they are investigating reports that it had allegedly gained a toe-hold in the province.

Over the weekend, Isabela Gov. Grace Padaca scored the Philippine National Police in the province for its alleged inaction against jueteng, reiterating the earlier statements of Vice Gov. Ramon Reyes, who described the local police as “inutile” against the illegal lottery.

“I hope General Razon will make a difference (in his campaign against jueteng),” said Padaca, pinning her hopes on the new PNP chief in so far as the drive against jueteng is concerned.

Senior Superintendent Dominador Aquino, provincial police director, denied that they are not doing anything against illegal gambling, stressing “we are doing our best to rid the province of any illegal activities, including jueteng.”