LINGAYEN–Seven mayors of Pangasinan have reaffirmed their earlier pronouncement that the province is now jueteng-free.

In a press briefing held last Friday, the mayors, led by Ernesto Castaneda of Lingayen, executive vice-president of the Pangasinan Mayors League, strongly denied that the illegal numbers game has resurfaced and is 100% operational again in the province as alleged by former Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz.

Castaneda lamented that the accusation is false and unfair.

He called on the retired bishop to “stop treating the province this way so that we could attain peace”, adding that local authorities are doing their best to fight all kinds of illegal activities.

Meanwhile, Mayor Teodoro Cruz of Mangatarem said there is no jueteng in his town and invited members of the media, as well as other sectors concerned, to see for themselves.

Basista Mayor Manolito de Leon likewise denied the presence of jueteng in his town.

He said that while the former operators were affected by the crackdown on jueteng, the local government has come up with alternative projects and livelihood options to the displaced bet collectors.

De Leon cited that a women’s group in town is undertaking a project on free hair-cutting lessons to the displaced collectors.

In Lingayen, Castaneda disclosed that the municipal office has also provided summer jobs for displaced jueteng collectors.

Other mayors who gave their statements include Eduardo Ballesteros of Aguilar, Lorenzo Cerezo of Binmaley, Armando Domantay of Malasiqui, and Mark Roy Macanlalay of Calasiao.

All seven mayors categorically said that jueteng in Pangasinan has been eradicated.

The local chief executives also expressed their support to small town lottery because this is legal and may bear good results.—LM

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