86 Vizcaya jueteng workers nabbed

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya , Philippines   – At least 86 people were arrested in separate police raids in Bambang and Solano towns last Friday for their alleged involvement in supposed jueteng operations. 

Chief Inspector Kevin Bulayungan, Solano police chief, said 56 villagers were caught conducting jueteng activities in Barangay Quezon. The rest of the jueteng workers were collared in Barangay Banggot, Bambang.

But the Meridien Vista Gaming Corp. said those arrested were its workers conducting legitimate online gaming operations. 

Meridien said authorities might have mistaken them as bet collectors and employees of jueteng, which reportedly still operates guerrilla-style in some areas of the province.

A Meridien representative said their authority to establish and operate online lotteries elsewhere in the country is covered by its franchise issued by the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, which has its own charter.