Jueteng cabos shifting to drug pushing-PDEA
ON HIGH ALERT
THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is on high alert in Pangasinan and the rest of the Ilocos Region against displaced jueteng collectors and cabos who may have shifted to drug pushing since the illegal numbers game had grounded to a halt.
PDEA Region 1 Director Robert Opeña revealed that he received intelligence reports that the former jueteng collectors and cabos who lost their jobs because of the nationwide crackdown against the illegal number game are now pushing drugs to earn a living.
Last week in Agoo, La Union, a confessed former jueteng collector, Marcelo Mariñas, 46, was arrested by joint police and PDEA operatives in an illegal drug entrapment operation.
During the interrogation, Mariñas admitted that he was forced to shift to drug peddling to earn money to support his family. He is now detained at the PDEA regional office as appropriate charges had already been filed against him before the prosecutor’s office.
Opena, in a talk over a radio station in Dagupan, said former jueteng collectors are the main focus of their strengthened and modified campaigns and operations against illegal drugs.
Jueteng has been stopped in Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte since retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz exposed certain officials and personalities as operators and ultimate beneficiaries of jueteng payola.
The named officials and personalities, included Governor Amado Espino Jr., who vehemently denied the former prelate’s accusation and challenged him to substantiate his charge. He reiterated his stance against jueteng during the Senate hearing last week.
Cruz is founding chairman of the Krusada ng Bayan laban sa Jueteng which he formed when he was archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan.
ESPINO AT THE SENATE
Meanwhile, Espino has refuted allegations that he is among the operators of the illegal numbers game during the resumption of hearings by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee last October 6 in Pasay City.
“I am not, I have never been, and I have no intention of becoming a jueteng operator. And I challenge everyone who accuses me as such to stand up here and show proof,” Espino said.
Espino further said he has a high regard for retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz who tagged him as among the beneficiaries of jueteng payola and that he believes the prelate means well in his crusade, but that “he might be just being misled by overzealous informants who are unwittingly being carried away by wild rumors and malicious schemes.”
The governor said he is one with all well-meaning leaders of this country for the complete eradication of this “national disease”. – LM
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