Ricaforte maintains: “Jai-alai is legal”
LINGAYEN—Jai-alai is legal and we can’t stop it.
This is the gist of the statement made by the police provincial director of Pangasinan as he reiterated that there is no more jueteng in Pangasinan amid allegations that the jai-alai off-fronton betting stations are being used as a front for jueteng.
Senior Superintendent Rosueto Ricaforte maintained that only the jai-alai betting stations put up by the Meridien Vista Gaming Corporation (MVGC) are operating.
On persistent reports, however, that the off-fronton betting stations are used as fronts of the illegal numbers game jueteng, Ricaforte said the operations of the betting stations are being closely monitored to ensure that these will operate only in accordance with the permits granted them.
MVGC set up 41 off-fronton betting stations in 35 towns and three cities of Pangasinan, all of which were issued business permits by the respective mayors.
“As far as we are concerned and based on the company’s documents, this is legal,” Ricaforte said referring to jai-alai.
The Court of Appeals recently issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) that prevents the police and their agents from closing down MVGC’s off-fronton betting stations in Pangasinan.
Ricaforte also said that he received a directive from the police headquarters to cease and desist from conducting operations against the off-fronton stations.
Ricaforte appeared before the Sangguniang Panlalawigan last September 5 and told its members that the hands of the police are tied in view of the TRO.
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