Gaming company slams NCRPO over 'illegal' arrests

MANILA, Philippines - A gaming firm cried foul yesterday after the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) arrested 14 of its jai-alai personnel during an illegal gambling drive Monday.

Meridien Vista Gaming Corp. spokesman Raul Banderas said the NCRPO operatives, headed by intelligence chief Senior Superintendent Conrado Capa, stormed jai-alai betting stations in Metro Manila and arrested personnel allegedly linked to the illegal numbers game jueteng.

“We reiterate that jueteng is different from jai-alai, (but) the police, especially the NCRPO command, are trying to insist that we are jueteng,” Banderas said.

He said the recent raids were clear indications that the police are trying to get back at them for the firm’s refusal to shell out “weekly payolas.”

NCRPO director Chief Superintendent Alan Purisima said those arrested were collecting bets outside their outlets, which is illegal under the law, even if the personnel have proper identification cards.

“We are only enforcing the law and nothing more,” he said.

The NCRPO chief said they are not singling out jai-alai, as evidenced by the number of arrests his men made on other forms of illegal gambling.