LINGAYEN—A visibly irritated Gov. Amado Espino Jr. directed all mayors to stop any move to restore jueteng operations in their localities amid reports that jueteng operators are set to return with a vengeance this week in defiance of his order to the police.

Jueteng collectors have reportedly began making their rounds in the streets of several towns and cities in the province, an indication that jueteng is creeping back after a short lull since the governor declared publicly that jueteng will be stopped.

At presstime, reports reaching the PUNCH indicate that jueteng collectors have reportedly resurfaced in the cities of Dagupan and San Carlos and the towns of Calasiao, Lingayen and Asingan.

With this development, Superintendent Harris Fama, deputy police provincial director for operations, warned the city and town police chiefs anew of repercussions on their career in the police service if they fail to prevent the return of jueteng.

Fama stressed that the “One Strike Policy” imposed by Chief PNP Raul Bacalzo is still in effect, meaning should there be jueteng bet collectors or cabos arrested in a police chief’s area of responsibility, the latter would be immediately relieved from his post and administratively charged.

He warned that special teams of the PNP (Philippine National Police) could raid their areas and conduct arrests any time and the police chiefs would be made accountable for the presence of the jueteng collectors in their localities.

Senior Superintendent Rosueto Ricaforte, police provincial director, has a standing order to all city and town police chiefs from to stop jueteng including the guerrilla operations.

At presstime, however, no police chief has been made to account despite some reported arrests of cobradores in several barangays.

It is widely believed that jueteng operators could be testing the waters to find out how determined the police are in carrying out their orders to stop jueteng and who among the mayors and police chiefs are willing to cooperate.

Police claim that jueteng collectors are reportedly taking bets in the province but deliver these to a jueteng den outside Pangasinan but did not elaborate which province.

TEXT BRIGADE VS. ARCHBISHOP

Meanwhile, anonymous text brigades have been busy sending morbid messages to cell numbers, among them owned by local media practitioners presaging the “death” of retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz.

The text read: “Darating at darating ang panahon…tatayaan din sa jueteng ang numero  ng paring namatay o PARING PINATAY sa katauhan ni ARCHBISHOP OSCAR V. CRUZ kaya tara na…taya na tayo sa jueteng”.

The recipients of the malicious text messages believe that it’s a move to weaken the resolve of mayors to stop jueteng and encourage them to allow jueteng to operate in their towns.

Fama also called on the public to be vigilant and help in curbing illegal gambling by immediately informing the police provincial office where the “guerrilla” operations are happening.

He urged people in the communities to take photos of jueteng activities and submit these to the police, or even effect citizens arrest on jueteng collectors and cabos if they can.

Fama also reiterated that police chiefs have been directed to take action not only against jueteng but all forms of illegal gambling such as drop ball games, which are now widespread in many towns using barangay festivities as fronts.—LM

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