Abalos sets anti - jueteng deadline

An irate Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos gave the local police chief yesterday one week to neutralize jueteng and other illegal vices and drugs in the city.

Abalos warned Superintendent Jose Gentiles, Mandaluyong City police chief that his week-long accomplishment against jueteng and illegal vices and drugs would serve as the basis of his recommendation on whether to retain him or not in his post.

The mayor’s action followed an exposé by columnist Bening Batuigas of the Pilipino STAR Ngayon (The Philippine STAR’s tabloid) claiming that Abalos lacked "political will" to go after gambling lords identified as Ely Kambingan, Buddy, Daday and Momong.

"For countless times now, I have issued verbal as well as written orders directing your office to go all-out against persons involved in illegal gambling and illegal drugs," said Abalos in his letter to Gentiles. "With your failure to curb the same even after my orders, I am predisposed to believe that you cannot do the job that is required of you."

Abalos directed Gentiles to immediately arrest and bring to court the gambling lords identified by Batuigas in his column, "if the fact so warrants."

However, in a letter to Abalos, Gentiles denied that his administration had been remiss in its performance against illegal gambling, especially jueteng and illegal drugs.

In the first semester of the year, Gentiles said his office launched 36 successful operations against illegal gambling which resulted in the arrest of 79 people and recovery of P15,203 in bets. On illegal drugs, 238 people were arrested, 246.3 grams of shabu and 301.85 grams of marijuana and 358.13 grams or rugby were confiscated. – Non Alquitran