Jueteng resurgence possible, says PNP

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde sees a possible resurgence of jueteng and other illegal numbers games following the suspension of gaming operations of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

“That is a possibility. We are not saying it will happen, but it’s a possibility na pag-usbong ng illegal numbers games, particularly jueteng,” he said at a news briefing yesterday at Camp Crame, Quezon City.

Albayalde said they received intelligence information that jueteng is still being played in two provinces in Central Luzon following the closure of lotto, small town lottery (STL) and other legal gaming outlets in compliance with President Duterte’s directive.

“If the outlet is closed but the activity doesn’t stop, there’s illegal gambling going on,” he said.

Albayalde refused to identify the two provinces as they have yet to validate the information and conduct law enforcement operations.

“I am not saying that there’s activity, that’s why we need to validate first,” he said.

The PNP has closed a total of 30,284 gaming outlets across the country since Saturday. Of the number, 20,241 are STL outlets and 6,313 lotto stores.

The others consist of 2,762 Peryahan ng Bayan outlets, 778 Keno outlets and 190 STL drawing centers.

Police have closed at least 220 lotto stores, STL outlets, Peryahan ng Bayan betting stations and draw centers in Pangasinan.

Col. Redrico Maranan, provincial police director, said they are closely monitoring all PCSO betting stations following the President’s order to shut down their operations.

Maranan said he ordered police chiefs to arrest those who would continue operating PCSO gaming schemes.

A group of Pangasinan businessmen backed Duterte’s closure of PCSO gaming activities due to alleged corruption in the charity agency.

Albayalde, who personally led the closure of gaming outlets in Baguio City on Saturday, said they did not encounter any resistance as the workers of the lotto stores were aware of Duterte’s order.

He said the outlets were in the process of packing up or had already closed.

Albayalde assured the public that the PNP’s anti-crime operations will not be affected despite the President’s crackdown on gambling.

 “This is a one-day operation. We didn’t use all our officers,” he said, noting that the PNP is capable of doing other law enforcement operations with 180,000 police officers at its disposal.

‘Crimes, not lotto’

Sen. Nancy Binay criticized the PNP for wasting time and resources in closing lotto outlets instead of focusing on crimes.

Sen. Grace Poe said the government should reveal the extent of corruption allegedly involving PCSO officials and spare the innocent who should continue providing help to those in need.

In an interview at Camp Crame where she was the guest of honor and speaker at the culminating ceremony of the 24th Police Community Relations Month, Poe said those behind the supposed corruption in the PCSO should be held accountable.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros questioned Duterte’s decision to stop PCSO games, saying it would affect ordinary people, especially the poor, who rely on the agency for financial assistance to cover medical and hospital expenses.

“Why shut down the multibillion-peso charity operations, including small lotto outlets that are regulated by the government?” Hontiveros said. “If the President wants to rid the agency of corruption, he should go after corrupt PCSO officials who connive with jueteng operators in using STL franchises as fronts for illegal gambling operations.”

She said thousands of poor Filipinos run to the PCSO for assistance.

“At times, these are matters of life and death for many people,” she said. – With Eva Visperas, Cecille Suerte Felipe