DILG agents collar 75 people in jueteng, prostitution drive

A total of 75 people were arrested and P26,000 in cash bets were confiscated in an intensified illegal gambling and prostitution drive waged by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) last week in Metro Manila and Luzon.

Reports reaching Interior Secretary Joey Lina showed that four of the 10 operations conducted by the Task Force Jericho were in Pangasinan where jueteng is allegedly being operated "guerilla-type" because of the unrelenting crusade of Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz against jueteng in the province.

Chief Inspector Verlito Paredes, operations chief of Jericho said the raids were conducted in public markets and Barangays Pasima both of Malasiqui town, Tamayo in San Carlos and Anonang in San Fabian. The raiders arrested 20 jueteng personnel and confiscated P4,200 cash bets and illegal gambling paraphernalia. The other raided jueteng areas were Barangays Bayanihan in Gapan, Nueva Ecija; Lomboy in Sto. Tomas, La Union; 79 San Francisco St., Macabebe, Pampanga; Balubol in Sariaya, Quezon; Barangay Pook in Sta. Rosa, Laguna and Barangay Bangag in Aparri, Cagayan.

In his report to Lina, Paredes named the barangay officials, mayors and the chiefs of police in the areas raided by Task Force Jericho. However, he did not mention the financiers of the jueteng operations they raided.

According to Paredes, all of the arrested jueteng personnel were charged with illegal gambling in the proper courts.

Moreover, Task Force Jericho also arrested 19 guest relations officers (GROs) during a raid at the Ildemir KTV Bar located at 681 Don Mariano Marcos Ave., in Quezon City.

The raid at the Ildemir KTV Bar was staged amid reports that the establishment was used as a "front" for prostitution.

Those arrested were also charged with violation of City Ordinance 10700 before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office. – Non Alquitran