Jueteng back in Tarlac, Isabela

PANIQUI, Tarlac — Jueteng is back.

Cobradors (bet collectors) of the illegal numbers game have been making the rounds in this hometown of former Marcos crony Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco Jr. under the very noses of police and local authorities who are still busy attending to the damage wreaked by typhoon "Reming."

The plan to resume jueteng here was reportedly finalized a week ago by local big-time gambling lords, among them "Tita Batangueña, the wife of a police officer, and a certain Kadyo, who used to operate the illegal numbers game in Tarlac City, sources said.

The revived jueteng operation is reportedly being "managed" by a certain Bebot.

Despite the President’s order for a clampdown on illegal gambling, jueteng has also resurfaced in Isabela, with a former municipal mayor said to be behind the operation.

Cobradors collect bets even in public places, and Vergel Sensano, a local reporter, said winning combinations are drawn thrice daily.

"Tag-gutom kasi (It’s a period of hunger)," said one of The STAR’s sources.

This municipality is also the hometown of Tarlac’s first district Rep. Gilbert Teodoro Jr., known as Cojuangco’s favorite nephew and one of President Estrada’s so-called "Bright Boys."

Sources said collection of jueteng bets is still limited to this town, as the gambling lords are still reportedly "testing the waters."

Should the illegal numbers game persist undisturbed until next week, it is expected to also resume in nearby towns, namely Moncada, Camiling, Sta. Ignacia, Pura, Ramos, Anao, San Manuel and Mayantoc, all in the first congressional district.

There is also a reported plan to resume jueteng in the towns of La Paz, Capas and Concepcion, all in the third congressional district.

Jueteng was totally stopped here last month when the Philippine Gaming and Amusement Corp. (Pagcor) issued franchises for the local operation of Bingo 2-Ball, known as the "legalized" version of the illegal two-numbers game.

The franchises for the legalized jueteng were awarded to known gambling operators in the province.

But Bingo 2-Ball, conceptualized by Pagcor consultant Charlie "Atong" Ang, failed to take off after Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson made an exposé accusing President Estrada of receiving hundreds of millions of pesos from jueteng operators. — With Charlie Lagasca