Police admits ‘jueteng’ persists in Kalinga

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines – The illegal numbers game jueteng, is alive and thriving in Kalinga province, the provincial police director has admitted. Senior Supt. Maximino Valiente said during a radio interview on Tuesday that five persons were arrested in the provincial capital town of Tabuk last weekend while in the act of collecting bets from jueteng enthusiasts. Valiente said cases have been filed against the five bet collectors but they also expect them to be released immediately as soon as their protectors post the required bail. Kalinga police are also investigating reports that a house owned by a village official in Tabuk is being used as a jueteng center. “We will continue arresting people involved in this illegal numbers game as directed by our governor," he said, even as the law provides only a light reproof on arrested bet collectors. Kalinga Governor Floydelia Diasen has promised that there shall be no reprieve in the fight against the illegal numbers game. “I have ordered the police to continue its vigilance in the fight against illegal gambling because this has done more harm than good to our people," she said. In Nueva Vizcaya, jueteng operations have also reportedly prospered in recent years despite an active campaign led by church groups. A young parish priest of a small town, who asked not to be named for security reasons, showed pictures of alleged bet collectors plying their trade in full view of the public. “Jueteng activities here is rampant, it does not only operate in interior towns anymore; it has flourished with its operations unhampered even in commercial towns," the priest lamented. - GMANews.TV