Mar says relief of P’sinan top cop a big boost to anti-jueteng drive

MANILA, Philippines - The relief of Pangasinan police director Senior Superintedent Mariano Luis Verzosa Jr. was a “big step” in ridding the province of jueteng and other illegal gambling, Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas said yesterday.

“Senior Superintendent Verzosa’s removal from his post in Pangasinan is a big step in the many series of steps we intend to take to crack down on jueteng and other forms of illegal gambling,” Roxas said in a statement.

Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Nicanor Bartolome ordered Verzosa removed from office last Dec. 19.

Verzosa was reassigned to the PNP Holding and Administrative Unit – Directorate for Personnel and Records Management in Camp Crame.

Roxas had made public his intention to relieve Verzosa over his alleged inaction to stop jueteng and other forms of illegal gambling in the province.

Verzosa had claimed that Pangasinan has been jueteng-free for the past years, contrary to the statement made by  Bugallon town Mayor Rodrigo Orduña, who  charged Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino Jr. with plunder for allegedly receiving P900 million in jueteng payola.

Senior Superintendent Manolito Labador,  Police Regional Office 1 assistant director for operations, was named as Versoza’s replacement.