Calabarzon police push operations vs jueteng

Camp Vicente Lim, Laguna, Philippines  – Police Regional Office 4A director Chief Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome has directed all police provincial and city directors in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon (Calabarzon) provinces to go all-out against illegal gambling in their respective area of jurisdiction.

This is in line with the directive of PNP chief Director General Raul Bacalzo against all forms of gambling, especially jueteng.

Bartolome said he will strictly implement the One-Strike Policy of the PNP against chiefs of police who will be remiss in their duty.

“The One-Strike Policy against illegal gambling states that when an illegal gambling operation located in the area of responsibility of a police unit is raided, or otherwise discovered by another law enforcement unit, or any task force created for the purpose, the head of the unit shall be immediately relieved,” Bartolome said.

Bartolome said that appropriate administrative charges will be filed against the said unit head.          

Upon his assumption as regional director on Aug. 13, Bartolome already issued his call for renewed and continuous campaign to curb illegal numbers game particularly jueteng.

He urged his provincial and city directors to work closely with their respective local government executives considering that police action is just one approach in the multi-dimensional fight against illegal gambling.

“We need everyone’s support in this endeavor to include the community,” Bartolome said.

In Batangas, contrary to what local officials here claim that jueteng does not exist in the province, a series of apprehension was made recently in at least two towns and two ci-ties that arrested five jueteng bet collectors.

Police arrested Avelino de la Cuesta, 42, while collecting bets in Barangay Binubusan in Lian town, while Isidro Mondragon, 62, was arrested also in Barangay San Pedro in Sto. Tomas town on Monday evening.

In the cities of Lipa and Tanauan, police likewise arrested Breanan Matalas, 42, in Barangay Lodlod and Asuncion Fresnoza, 40, and Regino Oña, 38, in Barangay Luyos, respectively, while in possession of jueteng lastillas and other illegal gambling paraphernalias.

During the media forum conducted in Camp Nakar, Lucena City on Friday, Quezon police Director Ericson Velasquez immediately responded to the said directives in preparation for the Command to be alert for the coming Sangguniang Kabataan and barangay elections.

Velasquez ordered his subordinates to strictly eye on jueteng activities in some rural and urban areas.

Velasquez also sought the help of journalists and community folks to give their trust in order to resolve cases regarding illegal activities.

Moreover, newly-installed Caraga PNP Regional Director Reynaldo Rafal over the weekend said he is determine to follow Bacalzo’s directive on the “one strike policy” in the campaign against illegal gambling to all 70 city and municipal police chiefs and more than 3,000 police personnel in the Caraga region.

In a press conference after his installation as the new Caraga Police Regional Director replacing Chief Superintendent Lino De Guzman Calingasan who has just retried on his 56th birthday Sept. 23, Rafal told newsmen and some police officers that he will follow “Punishment and Rewards Policy” as a rule of thumb in the drive against illegal gambling in the region.

“Reward those who strictly adhere to new policies while punished those who are violating it,” Rafal told local newsmen at the hastily called news conference right after turn over rites Friday.  - With Ben Serrano