2 jueteng bet collectors nabbed, slot machines seized in Cordillera

BENGUET, Philippines-  Cops arrested two jueteng bet collectors in Baguio City and seized slot machines in Mountain Province after Cordillera policemen renewed the anti-gambling drive this week.

Baguio intelligence operatives reportedly chanced upon two kubradors collecting jueteng bets beside the Louie Auto Supply along Happy Homes-Old Lucban the other day here.

“Kubradors” (bet collectors) Mark Manda Reyes, 23, from Purok 3, West Quirino Hill and Jayson Enriques de Castro, 24, from Slaughter Compound, Sto. Nino, Magsaysay Avenue are now facing charges.

Chief Superintendent Isagani R. Nerez, regional director of the Police Regional Office (PRO) in the Cordillera said the duo were caught with P1,105 cash bets in different denominations, Meridien Gaming Corp. papepilitos and two blue ball pens.

In Sabangan town, Mt. Province, six slot machines were seized in a raid in barangay Supang, Wednesday morning.

But Mt. Province policemen said they have yet to identify  the real owner of the slot machines.

Arrested suspects’ names were withheld by policemen while charges were still being readied.

Nerez appealed for continuous support of the community and other sectors as he vowed stepped up anti-illegal gambling drives in all provinces in the highland region.

Anti-gambling advocates in the region earlier challenged the police to implement the “one-strike policy” in Cordillera provinces especially in Abra, Mt. Province and Kalinga.