Palace role seen as cops keep 'jueteng' unmolested

22 February 2007

LEGAZPI CITY—THE INVOLVEment of Malacañang in the continued operation of the illegal numbers game “jueteng” is starting to rear its ugly head as the underworld lottery persists unmolested by police in Albay and other provinces in Luzon.

In Albay, draws are held three times a day despite demands by local officials and Church leaders for the police to stop jueteng and despite government claims that the small town lottery was picking up.

A bettor from Barangay San Roque in this city, who refused to be identified, said jueteng draws are held morning, noon and afternoon. She said the numbers 3 and 5 won in one of the draws on Monday.

Senior Supt. Herold Ubalde, Albay police director, said the police have not gone full blast in the campaign against jueteng because of the confusion created by STL, a government lottery designed to replace the illegal numbers game.

One and the same

He said jueteng and STL are using the same system, people and materials.

“We don’t want the STL to be used as a front for illegal gambling. But we also have to substantiate with evidence the possibility that the same people involved in jueteng are also involved in STL,” Ubalde said.

On Monday, ABS-CBN aired a report about jueteng operations in Albay showing footage of jueteng draws in Legazpi City, Tabaco City, and Polangui towns, all in Albay.

It also presented an interview with an informant only identified as Bong, a former bet collector, implicating 1st district Rep. Edcel Lagman, an ally of President Macapagal-Arroyo, and Presidential Chief of Staff Joey Salceda in jueteng operations.

Bong claimed that a certain Carding worked as a jueteng collector for Lagman, while a certain Junjee collected for Salceda’s brother, Rey.

Denials

Salceda and Lagman denied their involvement.

Salceda, who served as Albay representative before he was appointed chief of staff of Ms Arroyo, said he has already ordered the Bicol police to stop the proliferation of jueteng in the region while Lagman said he was not involved, in any way, in the illegal numbers game.

Lagman added that he even received a letter from a former police chief in Albay saying that jueteng no longer existed in the province.

Ubalde, however, said jueteng operations were running when he assumed his post as provincial police director on Jan. 12.

Ubalde said even before Lagman called him up Monday night telling him to stop jueteng in Albay, police have already stepped up their campaign against jueteng. Ephraim Aguilar, Inquirer Southern Luzon