Jericho arrests 7 in illegal gambling drive

The intensified anti-illegal gambling drive waged by Task Force Jericho netted seven jueteng personnel who yielded P496 in cash bets in Parañaque City over the weekend.

A Jericho team headed by Inspector Bienvenido Reydado swooped down on the jueteng den located at Severina St. in Sucat, Parañaque at about 1:05 p.m. while the jueteng personnel were in the act of drawing their winning combination. The suspects surrendered peacefully, Reydado said.

Those arrested were identified as Rolando Almasol, 35; Mercy Batac, 38; Jaime Cuenco, 31; Edmund Mistela, 23; Renato Comica, 38; Nida Rafol, 38, and Romel Paneda, 37.

Task Force Jericho head Chief Supt. Manuel Cabigon said the suspects were presently detained at the Parañaque City police detention center pending the filing of illegal gambling charges against them.

Because of the succesful Jericho raid, Parañaque City chief of police Supt. Ronald Estilles has earned his first strike,"Cabigon disclosed.

"This raid will serve as a warning to him," said Cabigon in an interview.

On orders of Interior and Local Governement Secretary Jose Lina Jr., a station or police commander will be automatically relieved from his post after incurring "three strikes" in their areas of jurisdiction whether against jueteng or other forms of criminality.

When reached for comment, Estilles said the jueteng operators in his jurisdiction are operating "guerilla-style" because of his no let-up drive since he assumed command in January.

Estilles said he conducted a series of anti-gambling operations which netted more than 30 people, especially jueteng personnel. "Because of the heat of our campaign we find it hard to monitor where they moved their illegal operations," said Estilles, referring to the jueteng lords. Estilles is taking the Jericho raid as a challenge and vowed to clean his area of all forms of illegal gambling.

For his part, Cabigon said he will forward his report before Lina today. He said he will not recommend the relief of Estilles as yet because it was only his first strike.

"I do hope the raid awakened him. He should improve his anti-illegal gambling drive to prevent Jericho from scoring a third strike in his area," said Cabigon. – Non Alquitran